This is the last in a four-part series on getting your chickens and coop ready for the winter.
Once you’ve done everything else, you may find that you still want to provide extra warmth in your coop. We don’t heat the chicken coops in our yard, but many backyard chicken keepers in steady sub-freezing conditions have need for and success with artificial (electric) heat, through lamps, radiant heaters, and heated waterers.
Here are some tips I’ve gathered from customers and others who have used electric heat effectively (and be sure to read the comments section for more tips and advice, particularly if you keep males as well as females):
- You don’t need much. For a small henhouse the 250W “brooder” bulbs may be too much. A 100W bulb should do. Radiant panel heaters with a thermostat are also available.
- Don’t place the heat source directly over the roost. Your hens need to be able to get away from it to regulate their temperature.
- Chickens get used to the heat. Basically, they get spoiled, so plan to stick with it if you start it. Have a backup plan in case the power goes out. And plan to wean them on and off of the heat gradually.
- Be careful. Makeshift wiring can cause fire, as can the heat lamps themselves. Coop fires are a real problem. Consult a professional electrician. Keep lamps away from bedding, plastic, and other flammable materials. Use ceramic bulbs and fixtures. And make sure the bulb can’t accidentally swing into anything and break.
- A heated waterer may offer the most benefit, providing warm water for your hens and reducing the need for you to trek out to the coop as often.
- Both visible spectrum lights and heat lamps give off some light, which may increase egg production in the winter. In fact, some people use lights on a timer specifically for this purpose, extending the day by a few hours in the morning and evening, but the merits of this practice are outside of the scope of this post.
The most important thing, of course, is to have fun this winter. Enjoy caring for your flock and watching all the amazing ways they adapt to the season.
Do you heat your coop in the winter? How? And why or why not? Help make this post an even better resource by sharing your perspective in the comments below.
That’s it for our series on Winter Chicken Coop Care (if you missed the other posts, here’s a link back to the start). If you’ve found these tips helpful, subscribe to Coop Thoughts! Get tips on coop construction and chicken keeping, and see the cool coops people are building with our DIY chicken coop plans. We’ll email you the latest posts as they happen. It’s free, ad-free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Click here to add your name to the list. Thanks!