Snap Lock Coop Heating Suggestions

[workaholic90]

Howdy ya'll, we've been having cabin fever here in CO with all the storms so now I have time to work on the coop for winter. We live off the Continental Divide and it gets very chilly in the winter if the wind gets going. If anyone has a snap lock, Formex coop that put heat in it please attach some pics of how and where you put the bulb/heater. I can't put it over the roosting bars bc it is too close to them. I took one of the nesting boxes and put a small waterer and some food so i am thinking I want to put over the water but wanted some advice first. Also, how did you do with the little holes in the coop that you can see through, wondering if it's a burden in the winter and should I seal them. They are pin like holes only.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We understand that you don't wanna heat the coop at all if u can help it incase the power goes out but I am a bit nervous. Perhaps bc the coop is so small their bodies will generate alot of heat.

Thanks

 

[Hokum Coco]

I have been around the sun 63 times.

It is not my first "Rodeo!"

Nobody "I know" heats a chicken coop.

Healthy "cold hearty" chickens die from heat not cold.

I live in Canada last year was subject to -40º (C or F take your pick) no light or heat in coop NO PROBLEMS.

Chickens have been raised on this continent for over a hundred years without heat.

If you feel you must supply heat to your chickens I suggest keeping your chickens in the house that way you can huddle with your birds when the hydro goes out.

Chickens will die from cold if not given the chance to acclimatize. Hydro is more apt to go out in an ice storm or blizzard when subject to below 0º temperatures in my opinion.

How would you supply heat then to your un-acclimatized birds ???

Diary of last winter cold snap check out the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/738994/chickens-arctic-conditions-prolonged-period

 

[workaholic90]

Thanks

 

[thomasboyle]

Chickens don't "need" an external heat source. I read somewhere that each chicken puts out 10 watts of heat, so a flock quickly puts out a fair amount of heat. I had a broody duck that was by herself in a pen and laying on eggs in the middle of winter, so I provided her with a ceramic heat lamp. It has a screw in base like a light bulb, but emits no light, just heat. They sell them in 50 and 100 watts. I added a shield of hardware wire to it, so there was no way she could touch the bulb which easily gets hotter than 300 degrees. I placed it 12" above her head, so it was about 18" off the floor. Make sure you secure it very well, as a lamp that falls can be a significant fire hazard. I'm not familiar with the snap lock coops, so I can't comment on that, but tiny holes should not be an issue, ventalation is good, even in the harshest winter.

 

[Jeddice]

I see this post is very old, but was wondering if you still use the formax snap an lock coop, if not why?