SO I know many don't but I want the option. Curious

[teach1rusl]

I do add a little heat to my coops (well, only my main coop so far, as my bantam coop hasn't seen a winter yet). I like the radiator looking contained oil units. That unit you linked looks very iffy to me safety-wise. Other safe options I've read about here on BYC are the sweeter heater and other flat panel heater types. I'm not sure yet what I'll use in my small coop. I have used a little clay pot "heater" in a tiny, temp. coop I built, and it worked great.

 

[citychickx6]

Ok. So The issue I am trying to avoid is chicken cicles when we go below 0. The main concern I have is for their safety. I have read and read and am agreeing that constant supplemental heat is bad. I want them to be safe so was looking for something I could compromise on the no heat added thing just for when it is below 0.

I guess back to the drawing board for me.
The coop is uninsulated and has a south facing window so will get radiant heat during the day from the sunshine.
The coop in question is small and I am worried that a heat lamp will not be able to be far enough from the wood to avoid a fire. FIRE is the LAST thing I ever want to happen.
Maybe I could try them in with the other chickens again and see how they get along now. That coop is much larger and is a walk in converted shed also with a south window.

Thank you everyone for your input and advice. I am taking it to heart as I want the best for them.

 

[True Grit]

Have a look at a Premier 1 heatlamp. I use it in my coop on a thermocube that turns it on at 20 degrees and off at 30. It just gives the chickens some gentle radiant heat while they're sleeping and if it gets to -10 outside it might be 8 degrees inside in ambient temp but the radiant heat helps keep them a little warmer.

 

[citychickx6]

Quote:
I like that one. It looks safer than the ones that are just a metal shroud. Where did you find a thermacube that comes on at 20?
The only ones I can find come on at 35. I think that would keep the lamp on to much. The 20 degree one sounds more reasonable.

 

[True Grit]

I had to get my thermocube on line, may even have been on ebay but I didn't want the lamp on all the time which it would have been with one of the 30-40 degree cubes. My first Premier 1 lamp did come apart and they replaced it with the newer model so it is still important to fasten it from two different points on the lamp, the top and then loop something around the housing under the handle. It keeps the bulb well away from anything, even if it falls down. I did use a ceramic 250 bulb for part of the winter but it seemed to melt the metal at the contact point so I switched back to the red bulb. The ceramics ARE supposed to be safer so I may try it again and test it outside the coop for a few days.
Like I said, it doesn't really heat the coop up but warms the chickens a bit during bitter nights.

 

[Hauntedyards]

You can get little "20 inch wide convection baseboard wall mount type heaters right cheap as well. This was in the flyer today...

Looks cheap enough to try... it has a digital thermostat and could go on a thermocube if it's own didn't have the range.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
I like that one. It looks safer than the ones that are just a metal shroud. Where did you find a thermacube that comes on at 20?
The only ones I can find come on at 35. I think that would keep the lamp on to much. The 20 degree one sounds more reasonable.

They have several levels of Thermocubes. I know they have one below the "on at 20" model too, but I'm not sure if it's "on at 10" or "on at 0." Google them and you'll find many levels, including a hot weather model for turning on fans and such...

 

[kittycooks]

Quote:
Great article. Thanks for sharing. I think all animals, including us, are healthier with good ventilation!

The only heat I use is a 75 watt night reptile bulb in a brooder lamp. The birds rarely go under it, but it is there as a warming spot if they choose. Did you choose winter hardy breeds? They really do fine as long as they are draft free and dry. Here is what I have done in MN to winterize the coop .

 

[LiLRedCV]

Quote:
Some were winter hardy, but not all of them. I think their body heat took care of each other in the coop. Tried keeping them penned up during the inclement weather we were having then and they just went stir crazy! So I opened it up to let them out to free-range as usual. Made for happier chickens! They didn't care if there was snow on the ground... nor did they mind if they were "ankle" deep in mud from all the rain. They were just glad to be free.