To light or not to light?

[Kevin565]

That would be a stunning visual!

 

[ducksielover]

Wow. What an amazing community!!!! I did not expect more than one reply when I logged on. Thanks for caring, everybody!!!!
I didn't mistype.... it really *is* 40 degrees warmer in their covered house than outside.
The house is small- 3' by 4' by 3' with a 4' by 8' attached cage/pen.
125 heat lamp attached to ceiling.
There is a door leading to an outside pen that is only covered with a towel, so it is very "drafty" especially if there is wind. They always have access to the outside area, but usually once they are in for the night they move into the heated house to sleep.
I will downsize the light and see if that doesn't make a difference. I wasn't sure if holding the house at 40F, regardless of outside temps, was the right thing, and from the [perceived] gasps of horror from GoingQuackers I would guess not. So then, do I shoot for roughly 10 degrees higher in the house when temps are in the single digits or below? Or *is* there a bottom at which they are comfortable? Should I shoot for 20F when temps dive?

Again, what a welcoming community!!!! Thank you so much for the help!!!

 

[ducksielover]

I forgot.
Someone asked what bedding was being used.... we use pine shavings and change them at least twice a week.
Would something else be better?
The specialist at the farm store said that while hay is warmer, it has a tendency to mildew, causing your birds to contract respiratory infections. Pine shavings are all we have ever used.
I would love to hear what you all use or any suggestions.

 

[Cedar714]

My coop was at around 10F during the cold snap and they seemed to do fine, I used a plain 100 watt red floodlight because I didn't want to over do it or spoil the flock.
I have 2 Pekins and 9 chickens who usually live separately but when it got frigid I put the ducks in with the chickens and they gladly slept in the coop and integrated quite well with the chickens.
I use a thin layer of pine shavings covered with straw for bedding and it seems to work well to control the mess and humidity.
One of the main things is to make sure they have a snow free area to get to whenever they need and let them dictate whether they need more heat or not.
I also noticed that the 3 days of different lighting changed their behavior in other ways too, I took in 4 chickens new to the 5 I already had and they were almost like outcasts sleeping in the laying boxes instead of the roost with the other birds and grazing the yard apart from the original 5 I had. Now they sleep and graze together and I even noticed 2 hens laying on the floor less than a foot away from the 2 ducks.
Appears as if light and cold can have strong effects on the behavior of your flock.
Good luck with your birds