Should I be worried?

[Fred's Hens]

That 250watt heat lamp will cost you about $150-$250 to run for the next 5 months. (depending on your electric costs)

Frankly, there is absolutely no reason to do so.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
That's a pretty big disparity between the indoor and outdoor temperature. When I add supplemental heat to my coop for my tiny part Serama bantams, I only add just a little bit to keep it above freezing. I've read that it sudden changes in temperature are hard on birds, so I don't want there to be a huge difference between the indoor and outdoor temps.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
This agrees with my experience. I really think the flat board idea is more for the owner's benefit that the birds. But a flat board does not hurt as long as it is not so wide the poop builds up on it. My lowest outside temperature has been (-) 4 Fahrenheit. I have no idea how cold it is inside, but the water in the rubber water bowl I use in the winter was frozen solid. I do think a real important part is that they have real good ventilation up high but no breezes or drafts hitting them on the roosts in the winter.

This is a summer shot, but you can see the size of my roosts on the end where many prefer to roost.

Then the ones on the other end to compare sizes of roost.

 

[centrarchid]

Below is what many of my birds must deal with. Lowest temperature experienced annually in the low -10's. You are looking due north in photo.

Key to making birds safe is adequate amounts of quality food and protection from direct wind. I have had birds that choose to roost year round in trees. When conditions got really cold they would move to conifer trees (cedars and pines). Some woould hunker down in bramble patches. Birds with larger single combs are prone to frostbite so more love needed by you to prevent, or dubb them.


I see no advantage a flat roost and it is not natural.

 

[Gvnam]

Quote:
I range them everyday so they are out in the cold plenty long. The light only gets turned on at night. Turn it off at first light, then let them out. They seem to do fine. I'm not too worried about power outage. Winters here aren't too cruel. Longest power outage ihad here was this freak snow storm. Lost power for about a day plus. The chickens stayed out in the 20' coop. They all did okay.

 

[centrarchid]

Another risk with the heated coop is increased fire. Your Pennsylvania winters are at least as harsh as mine in central Missouri. Acclimation issues are real when power or bulb is lost. Also consider stress associated with leaving heated heated coop and going out into cold.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
I range them everyday so they are out in the cold plenty long. The light only gets turned on at night. Turn it off at first light, then let them out. They seem to do fine. I'm not too worried about power outage. Winters here aren't too cruel. Longest power outage ihad here was this freak snow storm. Lost power for about a day plus. The chickens stayed out in the 20' coop. They all did okay.

For now. But why put your birds through the constant adaptation from cold to hot and back to cold again? It may eventually catch up to them, as many have found out.

I too am in agreement with the round roost crowd....I've always used round roosts and have never heated nor lighted a coop. I leave the pop door open in all weathers and my coop has many cracks that allow varied areas of ventilation. The birds do very well.

I also agree that the whole flat roost theory is more for the human's benefit than it is for the bird's.

We get comparable weather to PA here in the eastern panhandle of WV.