To heat or not to heat

[1stflockMama]

OK yes, no, if it's below 30, certain breeds... what the heck? So many opinions so much mixed advice. I have 7 chickens. First winter, first time chicken keeper.
Our not cold tolerant babes:
1 Frizzle
2 Polish
1 Cookies and cream
Our Cold Hardy babes:
1 Dark Brahma
1 Green Queen
1 Barnevelder
They have an 8×8 coop
It's about 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've have or had most of those breeds without heat for decades. Seems its a personal opinion. I don't like the risk of fires that can be associated with the various ways to heat. Without heat, with temperatures below zero, you can see some frostbite on combs and toes on occasion. It depends on your set up. Keeping moisture in the air down can help. Good ventilation helps too. Chickens are good at keeping themselves warm.

 

[Ridgerunner]

To heat or not to heat​

Your choice. Most of us don't but a few do. Chickens can typically handle temperatures well below 20 Fahrenheit as long as they are given a place where they can get out of the wind if they need too and have decent ventilation. This includes the decorative breeds like Frizzles and Polish.

One risk is frostbite. That happens when moisture levels in the coop are high and the temperatures are below freezing. With decent ventilation to get rid of that excess moisture chickens can go below zero Fahrenheit without frostbite. In a tightly enclosed coop to hold the moisture in they can be frostbitten at warmer temperatures but below freezing. Some people solve frostbite issues by opening up tight coops and providing more ventilation.

If you heat the coop so it always stays above freezing you don't have to worry about frostbite. What would that cost for an 8x8 coop? A reason for ventilation is ammonia. Ammonia is a lighter than air gas produced from the poop. It is poisonous and can kill them if it builds up. You need an opening up high so the ammonia can escape. That is going to let a lot of heat escape.

There isn't much risk of them freezing to death unless they are stuck in a cold wind and can't get out of it. They trap tiny pockets of air in their feathers and down. Those air pockets provide very effective insulation. A wind strong enough to ruffle feathers can release those air pockets so they can get cold. You may be worried that your decorative birds don't have feathers suitable to keep them warm. Turkens (Naked Necks) have bald necks and significantly fewer feathers than most other breeds. They are considered a cold hardy breed.

If you provide heat you introduce a fire risk. That risk might come from your heating device, from the electric wiring, or fuel storage. I have electricity in my coop but that is for lights, not heat. I do not try to keep my chickens warm. I give them to opportunity to keep themselves warm with breeze protection and good ventilation.

Dad had chickens that slept in trees in weather about 10 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. -10 F. Those trees were out of the wind and you can't get better ventilation than sleeping in a tree. Those chickens did not get frostbite or freeze to death. Those were regular dual purpose chickens, not the decorative.

As I said, you can provide heat if you want. They are yours, do as you wish. I don't. I see it as a waste and an unnecessary risk.

 

[FrostRanger]

It was 32 this morning when I let my girls out. They seemed unperturbed by the weather and Lavender even curiously followed me to the door despite it still being dark out. For context, I have an open air coop but I have tarps loosely draped around 3 sides to block the wind. As long as they can get out of the wind, I wouldn't start worrying until you start seeing subzero temperatures. Chickens can handle cold weather far better than hot weather