Topic of the Week - Heat Sources: Yes or No?

[igorsMistress]

We do not add a heat source, but it rarely gets to freezing here and only for a short period of time. I do see my chickens snuggled together on the roost when it’s cold so I would heat the coop
if it was really cold here for an extended period of time.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

It got down to -15F here last night and is still about -5 now. I've always worried about a heat source being both a fire hazard and a possible risk for my hens' immune systems. One of my dad's friends had a flock that they heated the coop for. They all ended up with respiritory problems and died, and I've heard stories like this before. Apparently it's no good for them to have such a difference in the coop temp and outdoor temps.

We do have a fully insulated coop. Since this more extreme cold I've been bringing warm foods like oatmeal and soup broth out to the hens to drink a few times a day. Their heated waterer is having trouble keeping up, so this is hydration for them as well.

They do look cold out there, but I don't see anyone shivering a lot or anything. It's supposed to warm up tomorrow so I think I'll just keep up with what I've been doing.

 

[Krazikatlady64]

It has been cold for a few days now. Cold for us (South Carolina). We had snow yesterday afternoon/evening. It was 16F last night. I always thought the 3 hens and 1 Roo would do just fine. It's been down to 19 and they were fine. They're ok, but it made me rethink this whole cold issue.

In the morning, 1 hen (BR) was shivering, even though she snuggled next to her Roo all night. The Buff Orpington was on the rear roost, just behind (10"). Her comb was purple and I thought frost-bite. Rhode Island Red was by herself and seem to have cold feet. Roo, no issues. The hens are older almost 5. They warmed up by noonish.

I think it was too cold for too long and they were not able to warm up. We fight heat and humidity, not really cold weather. The coop didn't warm up during the day. Tonight I used 2 separate 100W reptile bulbs in the metal brooder fixtures. It gives just enough heat to keep the chill off. With my set up I could have used the red 250W, but they scare me. I've ordered a heat panel.

I think that if its under 20F I'll provide some heat to take off the chill. You just need to do whatever you think is best for your situation. Never had any issues before.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We've had temps near zero in the mornings and it has not gotten up to freezing during the day in well over a week until today. My 8 x 10' coop is NOT insulated and has pretty good ventilation over the chickens' heads. It has no heat source. My chickens are one to three years old and are all doing fine. There is no water in the coop. Water is in electric buckets outside that do not freeze. I'm in SE MO and got 14 eggs from 20 layers today. I provide a couple of hours of supplemental light for a total of 12 hours of light daily. They're all healthy.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Oh that red light special glows from the coop this morning.

It got down to -15F here last night and is still about -5 now. I've always worried about a heat source being both a fire hazard and a possible risk for my hens' immune systems. One of my dad's friends had a flock that they heated the coop for. They all ended up with respiritory problems and died, and I've heard stories like this before. Apparently it's no good for them to have such a difference in the coop temp and outdoor temps.

We do have a fully insulated coop. Since this more extreme cold I've been bringing warm foods like oatmeal and soup broth out to the hens to drink a few times a day. Their heated waterer is having trouble keeping up, so this is hydration for them as well.

They do look cold out there, but I don't see anyone shivering a lot or anything. It's supposed to warm up tomorrow so I think I'll just keep up with what I've been doing.

take care the steam moisture of the warmed feed can hit their little faces and freeze.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

11F in CT at 7;30am and i feel relief that its not -2f like yesterday morning. I just came in from watering and 2 hens were already poking around the henhouse. This winter has been extremely cold and at the worst of it I plug the red lamp in for a couple of hours. This morning I will not. This is my first winter having a green house in our yard and that has been such a blessing. When the sun hits it, (if theres sun), it actually feels toasty warm in there. The hens dart for the green house in the later afternoon where they scratch around while chatting it up. Yesterday they even dust bathed a bit.
This is our third winter with chickens and by far the coldest. What I have learned this year is acclimation to cold weather is key. I will only offer warmth support in small doses based on obvious need. Using a red lamp in the henhouse for a couple hours in the AM and PM will get every hen doing what they need to. We are clearly not out of the woods yet being that its only January but the hens are acclimated to 10F it seems. Good Luck everyone. Sunday it gets up into the 30'sF

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Oh that red light special glows from the coop this morning.

take care the steam moisture of the warmed feed can hit their little faces and freeze.

Thanks! Yes, I am trying to limit the warmed foods to about twice per day, and make sure it's not too hot.

 

[Chucker66]

Well we made it through the frigid weather last week. The coldest morning was -32 F. I did end up getting an oil heater from Menards and put it on the lowest setting. It kept the coop about 20F so that was nice. Now today they are out in the run picking through the straw and snow. Todays temp 40 F. I am hoping we are through the worst of it for the cold.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

No heat here or heated water, just to far from power source. -2 F this morning already took some water down for the girls.

Same here, never heated any coop and it's no big deal to carry a gallon of water to 4 birds 30 yards from the back door.

 

[Texgal57]

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Heated coops can be controversial. This week, let’s discuss whether you use heat sources in winter and why or why not. For example:

• What’s your take on using heat lamps or other heaters in the coop?
• Have you had any safety concerns or incidents related to heat sources?
• What are alternative ways you keep the coop warm without using electrical heat?
• How do you ensure your chickens acclimate properly to the cold?

Anything else you'd like to add.

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

Please, no heat lamps in the coop. A fireman told me that he had been to coop fires where the heat lamp was still hanging. It was the dust and feathers that caught fire. If it gets extremely cold, then I will use flat panel heaters.