Chickens don't need heat in their chicken coop. In addition, chickens are quite resistant to cold and know that they must fluff their feathers to trap warm air next to their bodies. They spend much more time in the heat than in the cold, being more comfortable in temperatures between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Should you add heat to the chicken coop? This is one of the most common questions asked about raising chickens in winter.
Find out why heating the chicken coop isn't safe. So is it necessary to heat a chicken coop to keep chickens warm? The answer to that is that the question isn't always. But in conditions of extreme cold or adverse weather, it can certainly be beneficial to meet your basic needs. The best heaters do not heat the entire chicken coop, but only provide close contact heat to chickens sitting or standing near it.
Therefore, chickens that are more tolerant of cold can perch further away from it and not overheat. I don't know how cold the temperature is in your area but it seems that the girls are cold. They are young to be in the chicken coop without a heat source if the temperature at night drops below 55 or below. You can reduce their area or risk using a heat lamp to keep them warm, but do everything you can to secure the heat lamp.
The best course of action would be to move them to a warmer place until they can better regulate their body temperature. Vents should be installed toward the roof of the chicken coop to release warm, humid air and introduce cooler, drier air. Now is the time to think about winter preparations, making sure your chicken coops are safe, free of parasites and repaired from structural damage. If you want to add heat to the chicken coop, you can ask a professional to install heat in your chicken coop, or you can order a flat panel heater from Amazon and install it yourself.
When it comes to keeping a chicken coop warm during the cold winter months, the safety of your herd should certainly be a priority. If for some reason you still believe that you should heat your chicken coop, there are safe ways to do that, that don't involve a heat lamp. When a bird's needs are met, production is rampant, but when faced with conditions such as extreme cold, you will have an answer to the question of why my chickens have stopped laying. So if you want your birds to produce during the winter (specifically in cold climates), keep your chicken coop temperature within your hen's comfort zone for better results and happy chickens.
One of the most important aspects of keeping your chickens safe and happy during the cold is having a water source available for them. At night, chickens don't need water, as long as you can give them fresh water first thing in the morning. They gave water to the chickens in the container And I use a bottle of gaterade One full of rock salt A little water to make it float And the water never freezes. If they are used to the chicken coop being warm in winter and the temperature drops suddenly, their bodies go into shock and hypothermia begins quickly.
Chicken coops that are properly ventilated and insulated should be able to keep your chickens comfortable during the pumpkin spice months. There's too much of a chance that your co-op will catch fire when you add a heat lamp, and even though you never think it could happen to you, it's absolutely possible.
