How to keep chickens warm in the winter

[chickennuggt]

It just started snowing today in Michigan, and since winter is starting, How can I keep my chickens warm safely? I heard the coop can burn down if using heaters for the chickens. Are there any safe ways to heat up the coop and keep them warm? I keep my chickens coop in the garage

 

[Coupdeusa]

If it's in the garage you may not have to heat it that much, but being in Michigan..... you could get a space heater or a heat lamp. The space heater shouldn't burn the place down if it's just blowing warm air, unless you have a wiring problem, and I've not had any issues with the heat bulbs, but they are more risky. Also, I did learn that if you have young chicks the red light from the heat bulb could affect them in undesirable ways. Hope this helped.

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

I live in Nebraska and when it gets really cold we line our coop with straw bales for insulation. Feed a little extra too. As long as there’s as little moisture as possible in the coop and they have plenty of food and water, they should be okay. Dry, well nourished chickens can survive surprisingly low temperatures. The hardest part is keeping the water liquid and the coop free from moisture and ammonia. If you want to use a heater, so long as you buy a good quality heater, don’t put it too close to the ground or walls, and check it periodically, it should be fine.

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

I would go with a bulb heater, not a space heater. With a space heater you run a risk of having straw or shavings getting caught in it or next to it and it setting fire.

 

[chickennuggt]

I would go with a bulb heater, not a space heater. With a space heater you run a risk of having straw or shavings getting caught in it or next to it and it setting fire.

Thank you I will try a bulb heater

 

[chickennuggt]

If it's in the garage you may not have to heat it that much, but being in Michigan..... you could get a space heater or a heat lamp. The space heater shouldn't burn the place down if it's just blowing warm air, unless you have a wiring problem, and I've not had any issues with the heat bulbs, but they are more risky. Also, I did learn that if you have young chicks the red light from the heat bulb could affect them in undesirable ways. Hope this helped.

Thanks for the advice and how does the heat affect them ?

 

[Coupdeusa]

Not necessarily the heat, but actually it was the light. Well, I read that the light being on at night, and some even said red light used for extended periods of time will cause them to mature quicker and causes roosters to be more aggressive. Idk how true this is, but it did seem to be the case in my experience. Of course, I didn't know at the time I used the heat bulbs but after I had read this I didn't use it on my chicks that I hatched and they seemed much more docile and they kept their innocent young look much longer.

 

[black_cat]

The best way to keep them warm is to have a dry, well ventilated coop. No heat is needed in most parts of the country, unless the temperatures will go below zero and stay there. Light is only needed if you want them to lay through the winter.
You should have one square foot of all the time (Not sometimes closed) ventilation per chicken that is preferably above roof height.
@3KillerBs has a great diagram that shows different ventilation strategies.

 

[MysteryChicken]

All I do is bed them down with straw(I also live in Michigan), & increase protien intake, also offer some corn here, & there.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The best way to keep them warm is to have a dry, well ventilated coop. No heat is needed in most parts of the country, unless the temperatures will go below zero and stay there. Light is only needed if you want them to lay through the winter.
You should have one square foot of all the time (Not sometimes closed) ventilation per chicken that is preferably above roof height.
@3KillerBs has a great diagram that shows different ventilation strategies.

This.

Chickens wear a down coat year round. They need a dry, draft free, well ventilated coop.
As long as they are healthy, well feathered birds heat does more harm than good. Trying to keep a coop warm means closing vents and trapping moisture.
If the power goes out or the heat source fails they are plunged into conditions they are not acclimated for.

We get low temps of -16 pretty much every year here. I do not add heat and have only had 2 cases of minor frostbite in all my 20(ish) years keeping birds. Both cases were on leghorns and only one bird lost a couple tips on her comb.