Safe coop heating options during winter

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Yeah Sorry that was unclear We keep the vents open in the summer and in the winter we closed them. There was still a draft coming through the closed vents though so we blocked them even more, and that seemed to lessen the frostbite that the roosters were getting.

 

[Alaskan]

Yeah Sorry that was unclear We keep the vents open in the summer and in the winter we closed them. There was still a draft coming through the closed vents though so we blocked them even more, and that seemed to lessen the frostbite that the roosters were getting.

Not having vents open in the winter worries me.

Glad it worked for you.

 

[aart]

and in the winter we closed them.

They need ventilation all year around, so the ammonia laden moist air can exit the coop.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

That will not be the case this winter, and we have a few ideas as to how we can fix things now. Thank you for all your advice, seems like I can always count on it here

 

[spiritpots]

So I’ll keep it short and sweet here lol...Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can heat my coop with this winter besides heating lamps? Thanks in advance y’all

I live in Minnesota and I do not heat my coop. I live one a heavily wooded area and the risk of a fire is just too great. Two years ago we hit -28 degrees F. and stayed really cold for a couple of days and although I was definitely concerned about the chickens, they were fine. This past winter we didn't get quite that cold but again, all was well. I built my coop out of pallets so line the interior recessed areas with straw in the winter. To be honest, I don't believe it made the coop all that much warmer but I feel better doing it. I also put an extra bale of straw in the run for the chickens to huddle next to but all they have done is sit on top of it. Last year I had five chickens and this year I will have eight in the coop. You can see what my coop looks like, the ventilation I have, etc. and how I added the straw if you click on my info. After my experience the past two years, and after reading much positive support for not needing to heat a coop here on BYC, I won't give heating my coop another thought. I use a double walled galvanized water fount and use one of these water heaters to keep the water thawed. I have never had the water fount freeze during the winter even when it reached -28 degrees F.

One other thing to note is that I have chosen breeds that are better suited for the cold weather with small combs so there is less of a chance for frostbite. I would think that a breed with a large comb would get some frostbite in really frigid weather.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I coat my White Rock hen's comb and wattles in petroleum jelly on really cold nights. It can get down to -11*F here, too, and her comb looks fine. I put it on with my bare fingers and I can't feel the cold in those fingers, so it must feel pretty good to the chickens! I think it's good for additional protection.