THE COLD IS HERE

[Phoenix rizing]

question...
I have two 150w brood lights currently and it's below 0 here im in northern maine on canada border
I was wondering if a 150 W CERAMIC INFARED HEAT EMITTER IN PLACE OF 150 W BROOD LIGHT will work better?
I have two 150w broods on my girls.. should I use the ceramic in place of one bulb? Does it provide a deeper heat??

 

[featheredplanets]

How old are your chickens? Unless they are chicks then they do not need heat of any kind.

 

[Phoenix rizing]

How old are your chickens? Unless they are chicks then they do not need heat of any kind.

7 months definately not chicks
Ugh I wondered about that... ok I feel better about them in the cold... ok no heat

 

[featheredplanets]

7 months definately not chicks
Ugh I wondered about that... ok I feel better about them in the cold... ok no heat

You’ll have to wean them off it as turning it off straightaway could make them ill and grumpy. Don’t feel bad about it Make sure the coop is well ventilated but draft free. Provide a high protein food and plenty of entertainment. Chickens have a higher body temperature than us and are insulated by their feathers.

 

[hispoptart]

Where are you located at and how cold is it? Now that they are used to having heat it will be a slow process to wean them off. Chickens don't need heat, as stated they need a well ventilated, dry and draft free area to be. If you don't wean them off what's your plan if your power goes out? They could die from the sudden exposure to being cold. I can't remember the name of it but there's a thing like a dimmer switch that you can plug your heat lamp into and slowly decrees the amount of heat it puts out.

 

[aart]

Where are you located at and how cold is it?

Yes, and how many birds in how big a coop?
Dimensions and pics(inside and out) would help immensely.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Acre4Me]

In general, chickens don't need heat. The need dry and draft free....yet with good ventilation.

However, there are some locations where it gets extremely cold or a deep cold snap occurs during more mild weather. In this case, make sure they have easy access to food so they can eat to help keep warm, and access to feed for all hours with light. Although chickens don’t need heat (generally), extreme temps can stress individual birds ...just like most animals. So, there are situations where “heat” makes sense. Heat is in quotations bc the heat added should not heat the coop to human-comfortable temps, but create a less stressful environment by adding a few degrees of warmth. Of course, heat is not required, even in extreme cases....a chicken keeper can enjoy the results of the “hardiest survive” type scenario.

for us, we have some pretty low (but not really extreme) temps in the winter..can get to -18F (and lower with wind chill) a few times in the winter, often with lots of wind. We can have sustained periods of below 0F temps. during these low temp times, we provide feed in their coop 24/7, whereas normally feed is taken up when the coop is locked up for the night. We also have a single heat lamp that is connected to a thermostat so that it won’t turn on unless the inside coop temp gets below 15F. It does not turn on very often bc the heat of the birds, combined with the draft free roost area help to keep temps slightly elevated above outdoor temps. However, the coop is well ventilated (and not insulated) so the coop does not retain much heat.

so, adding heat is a personal choice based on your situation.

 

[aart]

@BantyChooks taught me about 'cold reset'. I bring bird into the slightly warmer garage for just a couple-few hours. Makes sure she eats, give her a dose of electrolytes, see what's coming out the other end, and just observe. Then take them back out to coop, has 'saved' a few here, it's pretty amazing how they bounce back.

Birds can get dehydrated in winter as well as summer.
I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins solution.
This avoids the 'wattle dippage' of an open waterer.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon of SAC to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

 

[BantyChooks]

I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins solution.
This avoids the 'wattle dippage' of an open waterer.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon of SAC to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

That's brilliant.