Winter With Chickens: To Heat or Not Heat the Coop

[Kessy09]

The wind chill shouldn't really be a factor in looking at temperature. So long as they have a sturdy shelter with no drafts and plenty of space inside to keep them from being overcrowded should they have to stay in there. The wind chill is only an issue if they are in the wind. And if a chicken is not smart enough to move out of the wind and into their dry house then....well not a chicken with keen enough survival instincts for me to want to breed. The wind chill shouldn't even come into play when talking about coop temps. Plus, it's never that cold here. -53 with the windchill would be record breaking cold. Our average temps are -21 to -26 I'm December to end of February. I avoid wind chill issues by stacking hay bales up all around their run so when they are out and there is a windchill they are protected from it. We get strong northerly winds and our whole property is wide open. Windchill is not an issue.

 

[ten chicks]

The wind chill shouldn't really be a factor in looking at temperature. So long as they have a sturdy shelter with no drafts and plenty of space inside to keep them from being overcrowded should they have to stay in there. The wind chill is only an issue if they are in the wind. And if a chicken is not smart enough to move out of the wind and into their dry house then....well not a chicken with keen enough survival instincts for me to want to breed. The wind chill shouldn't even come into play when talking about coop temps. Plus, it's never that cold here. -53 with the windchill would be record breaking cold. Our average temps are -21 to -26 I'm December to end of February. I avoid wind chill issues by stacking hay bales up all around their run so when they are out and there is a windchill they are protected from it. We get strong northerly winds and our whole property is wide open. Windchill is not an issue.

We have had -53 with wind chill,i live beside lake Winnipeg and that huge ice cube keeps it very cold. These temp are too cold for my girls/boys,they have a heated coop. My kids are always getting days off school due to severe temp and wind chills. Cut off for school bus is -44 with wind chill,they are off at least 1-2 days a month due to temp.

Everyone has their own opinion on whether to heat or not,i have silkies and orpingtons,these temps are too cold for my silkies. Mine are pets,so yes i do whatever to ensure they are safe and warm. I have even brought them into my house during severe weather,they have heat in winter and A/C in summer. My silkies do not like the cold in winter and my orpingtons do not like the heat in summer.

 

[ten chicks]

Yup, we know why we add heat in these parts don't we. You aren't adding heat yet are you? I used the oil filled rad electric heaters, and they are caged, so birds can't crap on em, or knock em over... I just add enough heat to take the edge off. None of my sets of grandparents added any heat into there chicken coops right here in Southern Manitoba... -53, not an every year occurrence thank God, but get a lot of -40 to -45 each year. Think you are around the Gimli area, that's gotta be the coldest zone in Southern Manitoba

Yes,i live by Lake Winnipeg. I have turned heat on in my coops,i use a construction heater with a thermostat,so when temp drops heat comes on. This way i have no worries about my girls freezing,my silkies do not like cold temps. I have A/C for them in the summer b/c my orpingtons do not like the heat. The way i view it is,my dogs do not stay out in severe cold,so why should my chickens. There is a lot of -40 to -45 my kids are always getting days off due to school buses not running.

Construction heaters are safe,but i do have smoke detectors in my coop.

 

[Kessy09]

I wasn't trying to be argumentative. I just wanted to point out something that people may not realize-that the wind chill is not a factor when discussing the temperature in coops. That's all. It definitely would be though when addressing school cancelations as kids would be more prone to experiencing the chill of it, as they would have to spend some amount of time in the direct wind, whereas chickens do not. I see now though from where you live that it would be much colder than those of us who don't live right on the lake. Our cabin is out at Victoria Beach and even though it's not on the lake the air is several degrees colder there than at home. We are actually quite close I think-we live near Clandeboye.

 

[Going Quackers]

Silkies are touted as cold hardy from everything i have read? regardless, i don't care what people do, i hope they have a back up in place though nasty weather brings unreliable hydro which means if you do heat or cool you could loose that and will immediately need a backup plan.

I do think one should educate themselves on the matter though, we tend to think of ourselves when it comes to temperatures extremes animals work differently and that needs to be considered. We have been hit with cold today too, blah i am sure the animals will cope, it's me i'm worried about!!

 

[ten chicks]

Silkies can stand cold,but not extreme temp. Backup plan is my house.

 

[ten chicks]

I wasn't trying to be argumentative. I just wanted to point out something that people may not realize-that the wind chill is not a factor when discussing the temperature in coops. That's all. It definitely would be though when addressing school cancelations as kids would be more prone to experiencing the chill of it, as they would have to spend some amount of time in the direct wind, whereas chickens do not. I see now though from where you live that it would be much colder than those of us who don't live right on the lake. Our cabin is out at Victoria Beach and even though it's not on the lake the air is several degrees colder there than at home. We are actually quite close I think-we live near Clandeboye.

You are very close. The giant ice cube keeps my yard cold.

 

[Rooster Rules]

I wasn't trying to be argumentative. I just wanted to point out something that people may not realize-that the wind chill is not a factor when discussing the temperature in coops. That's all. It definitely would be though when addressing school cancelations as kids would be more prone to experiencing the chill of it, as they would have to spend some amount of time in the direct wind, whereas chickens do not. I see now though from where you live that it would be much colder than those of us who don't live right on the lake. Our cabin is out at Victoria Beach and even though it's not on the lake the air is several degrees colder there than at home. We are actually quite close I think-we live near Clandeboye.

Yup the windchill has no direct effect in the coop, but can pull temps down fasteron the exterior, because of the air flowing with colder air. Like in a blast freezer, to freeze food products quicker, fans blow the air around making the product freeze faster.
School Buses also cancel, in case of break downs to avoid children getting frostbite and cold related issues. you and I both know how nasty it can get here, but we also can have plenty of decent winter weather too....
area current temps Gimli -14c, Winnipeg Airport -11c, Winnipeg downtown -10c, Morden and portage -7c

 

[Rooster Rules]

Yes,i live by Lake Winnipeg. I have turned heat on in my coops,i use a construction heater with a thermostat,so when temp drops heat comes on. This way i have no worries about my girls freezing,my silkies do not like cold temps. I have A/C for them in the summer b/c my orpingtons do not like the heat. The way i view it is,my dogs do not stay out in severe cold,so why should my chickens. There is a lot of -40 to -45 my kids are always getting days off due to school buses not running.

Construction heaters are safe,but i do have smoke detectors in my coop.

hey why not, I used the oil filled rads, very safe. Construction heater can be fine, especially the type with enclosed motors, very spark free, in the event of a short.
I often see how The Gimli are can get much colder temps then us near Selkirk, same with Morden compared to Winnipeg......ps my birds are all out in run this morning already, but this is not real cold......RR

 

[Rooster Rules]

The wind chill shouldn't really be a factor in looking at temperature. So long as they have a sturdy shelter with no drafts and plenty of space inside to keep them from being overcrowded should they have to stay in there. The wind chill is only an issue if they are in the wind. And if a chicken is not smart enough to move out of the wind and into their dry house then....well not a chicken with keen enough survival instincts for me to want to breed. The wind chill shouldn't even come into play when talking about coop temps. Plus, it's never that cold here. -53 with the windchill would be record breaking cold. Our average temps are -21 to -26 I'm December to end of February. I avoid wind chill issues by stacking hay bales up all around their run so when they are out and there is a windchill they are protected from it. We get strong northerly winds and our whole property is wide open. Windchill is not an issue.

Again your right, but you and I both know we ge ta few days in January or February with -40 to -45c or so windchill, plenty of -30 to -34 c nights each year, but thank god it usually last a few night or maybe a week, then a temp can rise up.
-53 would be a huge record without windchill, but have personally experienced -44 with a -50 or so windchill a few times in the last decade, but again rare.
Thompson and Gillam can claim these temps every year, and they can have em......the Rooster Rules