Topic of the Week - Coop Heating and Fire Safety

[Southnjchicks]

I have always been anti-heat in the coop, at least for my location in New Jersey. This is the first year that I am (very apprehensively) considering it. I'd love to hear from others that have small flocks, as I only have 3 hens (RiR, Barred Rock, Buff Orp). Can a flock of 3 generate enough heat in a large shed? My gals are around 6 years old now and I'm worried about their advanced age, although all 3 are currently in good health they've definitely slowed down. We're set to get a cold snap in a few days that will bring the nighttime temps into the single digits (Fahrenheit) and it will not be above freezing in the daytime for at least 4 days. I'll never use a heat lamp because I'm terrified of the fire risk, but I'm weighing the options of something like an oil filled electric radiator on an extension cord. That makes me nervous as well and I'm leaning towards no heat and just some extra straw but I'd hate to do nothing and lose one on those single digit nights.

 

[Dreamers Nook]

I don't use heat in my coop. But because I do live in a colder climate, I got birds that have a high tolerance to cold.

I think that's the most important thing is doing research on what birds are best for the climate you live in.

However because my girls like the cold, hate heat (90 plus degrees), so I do have fans, and of course lights.

 

[awagnon]

I don't heat my coop. We are in North Texas and have just a few extreme cold snaps. (That's what we call them anyway.) Going thru one right now. I add extra bedding to the coop floor, put plastic over the hardware cloth on the windows and make sure there are no drafts or moisture in the coop. The coop has a hardware cloth roof because the Summers are BRUTAL here most years. I put a couple of sheets of the foam board over the very top leaving the ventilation all around the top sides open. It is covered by an old metal roofed open carport to keep the rain off the run and coop and is on the West side of a metal building workshop to block the northwest winds we can get here. I have not had any of my girls get frostbite or seem to suffer from the cold. The goobers were even out scratching in the 5 inches of snow we had last week! No feet were harmed during that time period either. They have the corrugated clear plastic panels installed all around the run from ground level up high enough to block the wind from them when they are out there. I was so surprised how 'warm' it felt out there when after I did that. Thinking about maybe having a few of the top metal panels replaced with them to see if that helps with the greenhouse warming effect, but that may make the run too hot in the Summertime. hmmm Maybe my girls are about to get their very own chickie solarium play pen for the winter... ugh they are SO SPOILED! lol

Though when I think about it, I feel like our wonderful Creator has designed all his creatures perfectly to withstand the weather they are out in in nature.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have always been anti-heat in the coop, at least for my location in New Jersey. This is the first year that I am (very apprehensively) considering it. I'd love to hear from others that have small flocks, as I only have 3 hens (RiR, Barred Rock, Buff Orp). Can a flock of 3 generate enough heat in a large shed? My gals are around 6 years old now and I'm worried about their advanced age, although all 3 are currently in good health they've definitely slowed down. We're set to get a cold snap in a few days that will bring the nighttime temps into the single digits (Fahrenheit) and it will not be above freezing in the daytime for at least 4 days. I'll never use a heat lamp because I'm terrified of the fire risk, but I'm weighing the options of something like an oil filled electric radiator on an extension cord. That makes me nervous as well and I'm leaning towards no heat and just some extra straw but I'd hate to do nothing and lose one on those single digit nights.

Chickens keep themselves warm. They will sit close, might even shiver to generate more heat. Thick bedding, wide roosts, winds block, water that isn't frozen, and good ventilation so moisture doesn't build up which will contribute to frostbite. You also can toss out some scratch to get them moving which can warm them up.