what temperature should I add the 250w light to keep hens warm

[sallyjayd]

Heated water is a great Idea I was wondering how I was ever going to keep unfrozen water in there. But solar lights aren't that bright, is that all the brighter that they need?

Boy was I way off the mark

Thanks all for the info I'm that much closer to being and good chicken mommy!

 

[faykokoWV]

I have a solar flood light set that I bought at Lowes for around $40. It has a large panel and three floodlight so it lights it up pretty good

 

[wichix411]

fay-does your solar floodlight have a timer on it so it can turn on a like 4 am or whatever it should be to have 14 hours of daylight? I think it would be awesome to have a solar powered chicken coop (IF THERE WAS A TIMER FOR IT!!!)...one more step to being sustainable, and the whole solar thing would eventually pay for itself in the long run.

 

[sallyjayd]

Thank faykoko I learn something new every day

Where you get the water heater?
I'm off to lowes

 

[faykokoWV]

Town and Country feed store, but they are available later in the year at most any farm supply store, Tractor supply etc

 

[vermontgal]

I try to keep the inside of my chicken coop above 10F. In central PA, I would think you will occasionally have nights below that (I'm from Pittsburgh). As long as the coop is draft free you should be OK. The chickens themselves will give off enough body heat to keep it warm enough for them.

If you're concerned, get yourself a max-min thermometer to track how cold it is in the coop compared to how cold the weather guys say it was over night. If a cold-snap hits, add a lightbulb (75 or 100watt) in the coop just for that night. Although adding light on an irregular schedule is not ideal, I haven't had any problems with my chickens getting off their laying schedule.

I also use a 60 watt heated dog bowl (with automatic thermostatic switch).

 

[sallyjayd]

yea my husband said it gets down to the minus sometimes I guess I'm lucky enough to forget, because I stay home and usually stay bundled.