When to turn on the heatlamp?

[rughooker]

I have some banties that are about a year old. When the cold nights arrive in N.E. Ohio this fall and winter, what should the inside temp. be in my 10X6' coop?

 

[hinkjc]

We do not heat our coops and it really is not recommended unless you are in the sub zero temps (and that's just to take the chill of..not actually heat). They will acclimate to the temperature changes in the environment naturally. If they don't acclimate to where they live, you can have problems. For instance, if you lose power or the bulb blows out and they are not used to the cold - they will probably suffer from it and could get very sick or even die.

Jody

 

[max13077]

I selected the breeds I have based pretty much on cold hardiness. I think most of mine can do OK without added heat. I'll probably stick a heat lamp out there though. I would think around freezing would be the "go" temp. Then again, I'm new at this.

 

[Katy]

I've never heated my coops and we get plenty of below zero windchills and single digit temps. As long as they have a dry place out of the wind they should be fine. Cold doesn't bother chickens near like the heat does.

 

[rughooker]

Thanks, guys. I have 2 roosters (my avatar) and a hen who will NOT go inside, EVER!!!!! They roost in one of our maple trees. These chickens are around 7yrs. old. I feel so bad for them, especially during rainstorms in the summer and blizzards in the winter. They will eat out of our hands, but when we even move the slightest bit to catch them, they run.

Any ideas?

 

[Katy]

I'd say if they've survived 7 years that way I wouldn't worry about them!!

My guineas roost in the trees no matter the weather or time of year.

 

[rughooker]

Kansas winters are pretty darn cold and snowy, aren't they? Isn't that where the Ingalls were from?!!!!!!!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
They can be cold and nasty!!

Yes the Ingalls lived here for a time. They lived in the SE part of the state. Those were some of my favorite books growing up.

 

[rughooker]

Quote:
What breeds of cold-hardy chickens do you have? Last year I turned on the heatlamp only when the temps. got down in the teens.