Use of flat panel heater in the coop

[Bogtown Chick]

Yikes, that's not much of a temp jump. I'm leaving the brooder lamp on (250 watt) on for one more frigid night. Then I need to work on a "weather alert" plan. My coop needs more ventilation, it needs to be insulated, and the door needs to be weather sealed. This is my first winter with my adopted flock, so the learning curve has been steep. Luckily a soft-hearted farmer down the road brought me 4 bales of straw on Saturday, as I bought the last two the hardware store had. Next year I collect straw bales early and find some strong plastic for the pen.

It looks like by weekend it will be warm enough to remove all the poopsicles

. Next year, something with sand under the roosts might be handy

For now, the flat panel heater is right inside the door. Secured by 2x4 pieces. I'll make sure I update when I come up with a more permanent (but removable) solution. Thank you all so much for your ideas!



That's a cement block/light bulb waterer heater inside. Had to put a 60 watt bulb in there for the cold snap, otherwise a 40 worked fine when the temps were above zero-F

My chicken learning curve last year was way steep. LOL. But BYC is so helpful...it really got me through...and probably better than some I imagine...LOL. Chickening is very humbling that is for sure. Your flat panel looks awesome there on the door. Ready to send some warmed air up to the girls on their roost. Yay. I got a 40 watt in my cookie tin heater too. I had 25 for a while but it was worthless. I've found the 60 a little too hot most days. I worry the girls might get burned on the tin....In this extreme cold though maybe it keeps that tin cooled down enough, though....? I've found that with my particular coop set up, size, bird number, insulation on the North and West sides, ceiling that heater is good for about a 25 degree difference for me. Taking the edge off. I'm sure Crazy Chicks hens were glad for that 11 degree difference. LOL. To me I don't want mine too soft. I'm using mine in only the subzero temps. I want that poop staying frozen in the coop to be honest for health and humidity reasons so the subtleness of this heater is perfect for me.

I really like the safety of the lambing lamp! My brooder lamp just has the metal "X" over the bulb. We've secured it to the ceiling (NOT with that lame-o clamp), but I still worry they can fly into it, or if the bulb were to suddenly break and drop down to the pine shavings (I'm not sure if that even happens, but... paranoia).

Woo-hoo for Thursday!! I'm in NE Wisconsin, so we're sharing the same storm

Yes I think our weather is much the same AuntGiGi. I went to school in Duluth so I can appreciate what you're going through...It may even be nastier where you are at. I used to buy lots of beer in NE Wisconsin.

 

[SleepyOwl]

I know they don't need the heat, but man did I feel sorry for my chickens the last couple days here. The two with larger (regular) combs did get some frost bit on the tips. I plan on getting something to stick in there for when it gets -20F or so. I like that lambing lamp. It looks like it would be pretty safe, as long as you secure it well.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I know that birds don't always "need" the extra heat. But I think some temps are just cruel on animals and if I have the means to make things a little more comfortable for my animals then I'm going to do that. I don't want them weak, mind you, living where I live...I just don't want them in cruel weather. I read of a couple Minnesotans (2 or 3) on a few cold weather threads that found dead frozen birds under their roosts. I don't want that either. I hear you Sleepy Owl. Beautiful Avatar BTW.

 

[crazychick26201]

It has been a while since I've shared. The last Arctic vortex, it got down to -8 with wind chill temps to -30. The flat panel heater kept the coop to about 4 in the roosting area. It was -2 in the run. They were shivering on the roost. Even with plastic covering everything, the wind was still getting in the cracks. I finally broke down and moved them to the basement in a large dog crate for a day, but they went crazy in there because they all had to lay an egg, so I moved them back out early the next morning. it was about 11.

So after that, we moved the flat panel heater to above the nesting boxes, a little closer to the roost. That seems to work better. I also used the link you provided to order a heat lamp. I really .ike it. But it is too big for the coop area. So I hung it in the plastic covered run. It keeps it about 8 degrees warmer than outside air temps. Now we are in another Arctic blast. Temps have been below zero for a couple of days. Tonight it is supposed to get down to -7. But no wind. Nothing like you have experienced in Mn.

My ladies have some frostbite damage on their combs. This whole winter so far has been trial and error, with a load of anxiety thrown in. I guess next year I will be wiser and will not worry so much.

Bogtown Chick, I read your excellent article on ventilation, and I really thank you for all your help and support. Someday this long winter will be over, and we can watch our hens scratch and sashay across the grass again!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thank you for your update on your Flat panel heater crazy chick. Yeah...it is a "mild" heater that is for sure. I think it makes a difference in my coop because I've got mine partially insulated. But this -25 to -30 bit is like putting peanut butter on a sore. I need both heating apparatus' to keep my coop near or just above zero in those temps. I can't imagine it keeping up in a non-insulated area. The proximity though near the roost, though as you did probably helped your birds more than you know. A bunch of ladies on our "Minnesota!" thread ordered up these heaters too and are fairly pleased with them.

I'm sorry Crazychick...which article did you read about ventilation? I don't think i'd written one on venting...LOL. Or was it a post on another thread with a different original poster? This MN weather I've learned a ton about wintering chickens and about my comfort levels in the extreme weather. If I saw a chicken shivering I would make adjust ments to my comfort level as well Crazychick. The garage is always in my thoughts too as it's insulated. The only thing is is my garage has humidity from the snow melting off our vehicles. WEll, at any rate I'm glad to offer insight from a cold cold spot of the US and offer any reassurance or tips I can!

Yeah that lamp is big isn't it?! LOL. But It sure has come in handy a couple days here this winter. Used it the last two nights for our second Vortex deal. Tomorrow we get a balmy 20 degrees.....Heaven.

 

[crazychick26201]

What I read was post #27 on the thread "How to solve a frostbite problem." It did concern ventilation, but was very informative about the humidity in winter air related to where you live in the country. Our cold air in WV is still fairly humid, which contributes to a frostbite problem even though my coop is surely well ventilated! Our coop is a Garden Coop design which I think you can google. www.TheGardenCoop.com The entire roof is open, although covered with hardware cloth. After about a 4 inch gap, there is a ridged clear roof of Sunturf polycarbonate roofing, like you might find on a sun roof, or carport. I love the coop, but we have had to make some adaptions because our winter here has been so cold. We covered 75 % of the area over the coop with styrofoam panels after the last cold spell. The run roof is still has just the hardware cloth roof. I am thinking of covering it at least partially so the heat lamp is more effective.

this morning air temps were -10, but it was 0 in the coop. It was -6 in the run. The hens were fine. We kept them in the coop with the pop door closed until noon. It is supposed to be more normal temps starting tomorrow.

I learned the hard way too about feeding the girls warm oatmeal when temps are so far below freezing. LOL

I am keeping a journal each day for this winter, so that next winter I won't freak out and worry so much. But I do wonder since the whole country has experienced such a hard winter, if someone won't come out with a safe way to heat your coop, at least minimally. There have been too many tragedies this winter. I have a cold hardy breed, and after a learning curve, realize that they are okay down to zero, but I am happier when it is around 10. Also, we live at the top of a hill, and have the wind to contend with.

I am planning my spring garden. It is a pleasant diversion! My "girls" and I are hungry for some greens! I am sprouting some wheatgrass for them.

 

[aart]

What I read was post #27 on the thread "How to solve a frostbite problem." .....

This one? https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-solve-our-frostbite-problem/20#post_12606256

 

[FloridaBasser]

lol Im reading about all these - temps and im laughing at myself for freaking out 5 days ago when temps went to 27. I had a heater out in the coop on a layer of sand pointing into the coop under a tarp. It was 65 the next day. /shakes head. But hey they are my chickens and I want them to be healthy and alive so not going to stress me stressing lol. I did see that someone pointed out that humidity was relative to risk of frostbite. What temps does it have to be to have a risk of frostbite?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

lol Im reading about all these - temps and im laughing at myself for freaking out 5 days ago when temps went to 27. I had a heater out in the coop on a layer of sand pointing into the coop under a tarp. It was 65 the next day. /shakes head. But hey they are my chickens and I want them to be healthy and alive so not going to stress me stressing lol. I did see that someone pointed out that humidity was relative to risk of frostbite. What temps does it have to be to have a risk of frostbite?

Well that's really the big question and unfortunately there is no definite answer...because the higher the moisture in the environment the less cold you need for frostbite. So if you think your hens are wet after a rain for example and they go into a coop and your temp drops right on down to 32 or less before it's evaporated off your birds or whatever then there is this potential for frostbite. The less moisture in the air the lower the temps you can go without frostbite. But many many BYCers will go so far as to say that birds can take -30 and still be okay if ventilation is right and the air conditions are dry. I do not subscribe to that notion. I think there is a breaking point with exposed skin even in a dry cold. And I would venture to say that -10 to -15 for extended period of time is when I saw damage on my birds last winter. Keep in mind Hens will tuck their heads under their wing in those temps so they are not as exposed. Vascularity and blood flow of the Rooster's comb is also a varying factor. But really it is just exposed skin, too.


Ahhh post #27! LOL I'm glad it was beneficial and making people think about what they've got set up. I think everybody is looking for a good single answer and there really is no such thing. There are so many factors and I learned it the hard way last winter. I paid attention to somebody who gave me advice living in a similar climate (maybe more moisture) but her # of birds, building, etc were different. Come to find out she was heating through the winter too. LOL. When her advice was not to heat or insulate. I mean no disrespect but it was a lesson learned on taking advice but also adjusting and knowing there is no one answer. I love giving advice myself...but being a blow hard and tough love for my chickens is a crock. LOL. I'm for giving gentle direction when I see there is a need and supporting their decisions if they seem valid.

When Florida drops to 27 I think your concerns are valid. Your birds are probably hardly conditioned to it. Literally in the spring...when I pick up a winter feather it is the most dynamic fluffed out feather I've seen off my birds. Its' quite amazing these fortified feathers. Your birds have not had a chance to do this FloridaBasser. I also think though one day of 27 is doable for your birds though if they get reprieve the next day. If they are all hens too remember they will tuck their little heads under the wing when they need to. You could get some bag balm to put on your Roosters comb for that tough night. You do what is right for your birdies.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Those garden coops are surely nice. And as you've realized...even with that wonderful aggressive ventilation there is this potential for frostbite with those temps extended like they have been. Last winter I saw a Wyoming BYCer with awesome wide open ventilation on his coopo and his hens still got frost bit tips on their combs. And that's dry cold out there. So to me there is these other factors and just the COLD itself as a factor. 0 for me too in the coop. When it's -5 or -10 in the coop the birds movements are more measured and protective of themselves. This is what you watch for and Crazy Chick from what you type...I know you are watching them.