Why are people so convinced that chickens need heat?

[Seaslug]

As far as not witnessing frozen birds, maybe you are not looking in the right place:
"The emperor penguin chicks most likely drowned or froze to death after the incident, which occurred in late 2022 in an area off the Antarctic Peninsula, called the Bellingshausen Sea, the outlet said, citing a study published on Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal "Communications Earth & Environment."

 

[Debbie292d]

Ok, I should have clarified. I'm in Southern Ohio. If it kisses 0 at night here a few weeks in the winter, its "cold".

Wisconsin is a different beast.

It is, yet, you'll find people in Alaska that don't heat their coops either. Most do though.

It's a lot to do with breed, different climates, and sometimes, just like part of ours is, personal preference.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Ok, I should have clarified. I'm in Southern Ohio. If it kisses 0 at night here a few weeks in the winter, its "cold".

Wisconsin is a different beast.

Indeed.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ive never seen a wild bird froze to death. Birds dont need heat

Some do. I've lost birds to the cold here the last few years, and we do indeed occasionally find a little finch or song bird or whatever they're called that didn't get back to their nests before the temperature drops over night

 

[Seaslug]

Also about whether or not you can expect some insulating snow cover... may be why some in Alaska do not need to heat.

 

[ChikaInu]

I'm from the very north of Sweden and in the winter it is normal to drop to -25 ~ -35C. Everyone I know either keep their chickens in a barn or a sheltered/heated coop through the worst of it.

Now that I live in Scotland there is absolutely no need.

 

[Debbie292d]

Also about whether or not you can expect some insulating snow cover... may be why some in Alaska do not need to heat.

Snow usually needs to be cleaned off as depending on the type, it can be very heavy and if enough of it falls, can collapse the coop. Ours is an Amish shed, which would never collapse, but hubby still makes sure that's cleaned off. It also can seal them in if it covers the coop, so at the least, vents have to be cleared off.

 

[ChikaInu]

I'm from the very north of Sweden and in the winter it is normal to drop to -25 ~ -35C. Everyone I know either keep their chickens in a barn or a sheltered/heated coop through the worst of it.

Now that I live in Scotland there is absolutely no need.

Mostly we were worried about frostbite in their feet and combs.

 

[Debbie292d]

Mostly we were worried about frostbite in their feet and combs.

The humidity of the coop causes a lot of that. Not having open water in the coop helps. Another of many reasons for the heat in ours, so the 5-gallon nipple waterer doesn't freeze.

Our first year, the coop was dripping water on the walls and windows. We went to horse bedding pellets, the nipple waterer, and a digital exhaust fan. Now, the humidity can be 80% outside, and our coop is 65%.

Oddly, Wisconsin has high humidity. Maybe it's lake effect or something from Lake Michigan.

 

[ChikaInu]

The humidity of the coop causes a lot of that. Not having open water in the coop helps. Another of many reasons for the heat in ours, so the 5-gallon nipple waterer doesn't freeze.

Our first year, the coop was dripping water on the walls and windows. We went to horse bedding pellets, the nipple waterer, and a digital exhaust fan. Now, the humidity can be 80% outside, and our coop is 65%.

Not worried about it in the coop, but if they went outside. -35 C is pretty darned cold.

Edit: mind you, when it was that cold we simply kept them inside. No outside walkies,it would have cost a fortune in energy to heat the coop with an open door.