transitioning chickens off supplemental heat

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

This winter is going to be the second winter for some of our chickens whom we raised from babyhood and the fourth for our other chickens whom we adopted as fully grown birds this past summer.

Last winter we had heat lamps in the coop for our chickens but this winter I'm thinking about ditching the heat for safety reasons as I've heard too many stories of coops catching on fire. We run a heavy-gauge, outdoor-rated extension cord to the coop but I worry about a stray feather or dust from the bedding landing on the lamps and causing a fire.

The older chickens that we adopted did not have heat in the winter in their previous home so they should be fine. My question is, is it possible to transition our younger chickens off heat, or did supplementing heat during their first winter make them permanently less hardy and in need of extra warmth during the cold season? And, if we do transition them off, should we do it gradually, e.g. only run the heat lamps when the temperature is, say, 25 or below, or is it OK to just leave the lamps off this year?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Nope. It's as easy as not providing any additional heat. Your birds will acclimate and their coat will thicken up as necessary. Sometimes when there are sudden drops in temperatures I see a few that will sit hunched up and they will look cold. Within a few days they are fine again. So don't feel sorry and pull out the heat or else you will mess them up more. I have never lost a chicken to the cold.

 

[SueT]

Chickens have down to keep them warm just like the wild birds. And Just like the wild birds they will do just fine all winter at your latitude in WA.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Thanks folks! The only reason we're reluctant NOT to provide heat is we don't want our chickens to suffer from the cold. I understand that they grow extra down and feathers in the winter and can survive. However, as my husband pointed out, dogs can survive in -30 temperatures too, but most people still feel that it is inhumane to leave them out in freezing weather and bring them inside or at least provide a heated dog house. So how can we tell that our chickens are NOT miserable in the cold?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

There's a reason we use feathers inside our own winter coats to feel warm. Animals don't feel things the way humans do. It isn't fair to compare how you feel to how your birds feel.

Dogs if properly acclimated and housed can live outside too. It isn't always inhumane.

Providing a proper coop, and wind breaks will keep your chickens from getting chilled. Keeping them dry through good ventilation, and well fed will also help them through the winter.

Farm animals have been surviving winter without heat for a very long time. It's only recently with the surge in backyard chickens that people feel the need to add heat.

Sometimes it's just a matter of trusting nature knows what it's doing.

 

[Mrs. K]

Instead of providing warmth, think about providing good wind protection, lots of dry bedding, and good ventilations in the coop. Wet, damp chickens are cold chickens, chickens that are dry and out of the wind are warm.

Most people want to add heat, and close up the coop to trap the heat, but you should open the coop up away from the prevailing wind to allow wet damp air out.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Which side of Washington are you on?
I thought the coastal side stayed pretty warm(not days on end below freezing),
but maybe the mountainous side gets colder?

Keep them dry but well ventilated...and not crowded...and they will be fine.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they were suffering they wouldn't be wandering outside the coop once it gets cold. They'll do fine without heat, 25 degrees is nothing for a chicken. Put your hand under their feathers on a cold day and you'll see how well their feathers hold in heat.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

OK, we're almost convinced

We're in Eastern WA and it does get pretty cold; our December and January average nighttime lows are only 13-14 degrees and sometimes we hit zero or slightly below.

Our coop is pretty well ventilated; there are slits just below the roof line on all four sides of the coop, and a fairly large gap around the door. There is also a bunch of small holes drilled in the wall near the roost.

What's the best way to keep the coop dry in the winter? We're in a fairly dry climate but when it snows, it's more humid, plus we're bound to track in at least a little bit of snow each time we go into the coop. For example, should we turn the bedding (pine shavings) more often, or add new shavings on top?

Our Buff Orpington rooster's comb got frostbitten last winter and the pointy tips fell off (see pic below). This happened despite the heat lamps, so it must have been too humid?

 

[EggWalrus]

OK, we're almost convinced

We're in Eastern WA and it does get pretty cold; our December and January average nighttime lows are only 13-14 degrees and sometimes we hit zero or slightly below.

Our coop is pretty well ventilated; there are slits just below the roof line on all four sides of the coop, and a fairly large gap around the door. There is also a bunch of small holes drilled in the wall near the roost.

What's the best way to keep the coop dry in the winter? We're in a fairly dry climate but when it snows, it's more humid, plus we're bound to track in at least a little bit of snow each time we go into the coop. For example, should we turn the bedding (pine shavings) more often, or add new shavings on top?

Our Buff Orpington rooster's comb got frostbitten last winter and the pointy tips fell off (see pic below). This happened despite the heat lamps, so it must have been too humid?

View attachment 1549227

If they are getting frostbite you may need to do one or both of 2 things.
1. Make sure that from which ever direction the wind prevails, you have it blocked off. You still need plenty of ventilation though so don't completely close up the other 3 sides.
2. If they are still getting frost bite you may have to dock their combs and wattles.

Chickens can't sweat but their breath is pretty humid (and can be fowl if you have every gotten too close) It can build up in a overly sealed coop and cause frostbite.
There are lots of threads here on coop ventilation of you'll just search for them. Sometimes the only humane thing to do is dock them to prevent it.