You'll also want to consider how much room you have for a coop in your yard. Average-sized coops may hold 4-6, while large and extra-large backyard coops can hold up to 12 chickens. The smallest of coops will usually hold just 2 chickens. The ideal coop should provide your brood protection from the elements and intruders as well as give them a spot to nest.ĭetermine the size of your brood first to help guide your search for the perfect coop. Next, you'll want to secure your flock a coop. But I wonder if that family will rethink putting a heat lamp in their coop in the future.First off, select the breed you'd like to raise (yes, chickens have breeds!).
All the chickens perished in the fire, which then spread to the barn, which could not be saved.įortunately, there were no animals in the barn at the time, and the fire was contained before it spread to the house. The fire started in the chicken coop (to the left) and was caused by a heat lamp. This is an actual photo (below) posted in Instagram. And remember, mice will chew through electric wires.and that's a fire hazard regardless of the type of heater you're using. But regardless, always use caution and common sense. So you're taking a huge risk by rigging up a heat lamp in your coop.Īn even better alternative to a heat lamp is a radiant panel heater like this one or this one. Far less chance of fire using an electric panel heater. Straw and wood shavings catch on fire so easily. Remember that clamps can come unscrewed, wires untwisted and bulbs will shatter if water hits them. If you DO decide to provide a heat lamp (and again, I can't stress how much I recommend AGAINST heat in coops!), be sure it's secured so nothing can catch on fire. It's important to make your decision based on your location, situation and mix of breeds. I just read a post from someone else yesterday about losing a silkie to the cold because she didn't realize that silkies can't fluff their feathers to stay warm like other breeds.Īnother friend had to have her rooster's foot amputated because of frostbite. Side Note: A friend of mine lost her silkies last winter to the cold after reading on another chicken page that chickens NEVER need a heated coop. If you temperatures are predicted to be -20 degrees F or lower.If you have breeds that are not cold-hardy, such as silkies, polish and frizzles.If you only have two or three hens in a large coop so their body heat won't be sufficient to keep them warm.If you have chickens who are injured or recovering from a sickness.If you have young chicks who are going from indoors to outside during the winter or pullets that are not fully grown.If the temperature is predicted to suddenly drop 20 degrees or more from the norm, going into the single digits or lower.
Use your best judgement and remember there ARE situations when heat might not be a bad idea, such as: Here are some other exceptions to the blanket rule that chickens don't need heat.
TSC CHICKEN COOP GENERATOR
If you live in a place where the temperatures in the winter go down to -40F for example, then running electricity to your coop, preferably having a generator as backup if you lose power, and installing a flat panel heater is going to be far safer AND far healthier for your chickens than using a heat lamp. However, I do agree that there are situations when heat might be necessary. The coldest outdoor temperature we've had so far is -16F and our chickens were just fine. We live in Maine and don't have heat in our coop. And the vast majority of chicken keepers should never need to heat their coops.
Going as natural as possible is usually better when it comes to most decisions relating to animal care. Most frostbite is actually caused by moisture not the cold itself. Lastly, the heat source will create moisture, which can lead to frostbite. In addition, the difference in temperatures between night (warmer) and day (colder isn't good for them. If your chickens rely on the artificial heat, in addition to the fire hazard that any heat source poses, if you were to ever lose power or the bulb burn out in the middle of the night, your chickens could die, not used to being without heat. They have a much harder time in the heat than in the cold, being most comfortable in temperatures between about 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit. I agree in principle that heating your coop isn't a good idea because of the fire hazard and because your chickens will be a lot more hardy and healthy if they are allowed to naturally and gradually get used to the drop in temperature as winter progresses.Īlso, chickens are actually pretty cold-hardy and know to fluff their feathers to trap warm air next to their bodies.
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