will they be ok with NO heater in the low 30s????

[GoldenSparrow]

Thanks all,
and Flockwatcher
thanks for the thread, it made me feel a whole lot better.

 

[Mattemma]

When I started out I just had 3 rsl hens in a metal shed.They did fine.Next year I had 2 rsl hens and 5 ee hens.They did fine too.This winter I have a roo,1 rsl hen,and 5 ee hens. I bet they will be ok.No heater. I just added some bales of straw to line some of the walls.I do have a problem with the one rsl hen sitting in the boda nest box which is a domed cat litter box. I think yours will be ok even the one with the sweater. Maybe only an issue if one hen sits all alone.Look for frostbite.We never had it.Maybe give scratch before bed.

I did add a light last weekend due to no eggs,but it provides no heat at all.In our area we get down to the single digits. I take out hot water.Oh, that reminds me the first year when I had 3 I would take out gallon water jugs filled with hot water.Morning and night time I put hot jugs in.Don't know if that was helpful for the 3.

 

[greenriver]

No heat needed. They will be OK.

 

[JodyJo]

I have already gotten to -29* here in Colorado...mine are fine without heat, never given them heat....they even love coming outside the coop when it's subzero:

they do the poofy thing...they sit outside in the run in the evenings also, when it is frigid....yours will do fine. If you don't know breeds, to to the breeds section and post individual pics of them, we will help you figure out what you have!

 

[love-my-wolves]

I agree with everyone.. HOWEVER...... I had a very tiny (maybe 1 pound) hen that almost froze to death. She was so small, and no one huddled with her. Every winter we had to bring her inside to keep her warm because the other hens didn't like to keep her warm for some reason. She got along with everyone, but I guess they didn't like roosting with her, she always roosted alone. So, as long as everyone stays together, no heat is used here either. I worry, of course, but they are all happy and healthy!

On a sad not my tiny hen got taken by a coon this spring

I miss her chirps inside this winter

 

[GoldenSparrow]

love-my-wolves
so sorry about your little hen

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Never add heat unless your birds will be confined in a heated building all winter, raise Seramas or perhaps Fayoumis or another heat loving breed.
Adding heat will do more harm than good. They will still want to go out in the morning the temperature swing will cause them lots of stress.
And if they were accustomed to heat, what happens with a power outage?
They need to acclimate to the cold.
And lose the sweater so she can feather out properly.

 

[NYREDS]

Mine do fine at 20 below zero with no heater. 30 shouldn't be a problem.