Winter is coming!

[Chickenzie]

With winter coming I am wondering what everyone’s experience is with coop heaters? I live in southeast MO so it doesn’t get horribly cold or very snowy, but we do get down in the single digits for a few weeks during winter. I know ducks don’t necessarily need heaters because they have a higher body temperature, but I don’t want to take the chance since I have a pretty big size coop for only 3 ducks. I know to not put a heat lamp in the coop in case of a fire, but I’ve seen coop specific heaters that look like a small flat screen tv and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. Thank you in advance!

 

[nuthatched]

They don't need them. A properly vented coop will not retain heat, just a nice little fire hazard.

 

[Debbie292d]

We have three of those radiant heaters. They are usually called Cozy Coop heaters. They are nice as they won't put out enough heat to get hot or to heat a room, but if they get chilled, they can go lean up or stand next to it for a while. Low wattage with two settings. We usually keep it on the low setting unless it gets 20F or below, then put it on the higher one.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I live just south of you. On cold nights I make sure mine have plenty of hay for insulation. If it is going down to single digits I fill a gallon milk jug with hot tap water and put it in the coop. I am always amazed when the water is not frozen in the morning. I have been doing this for years without any problems.

 

[bill3607]

With winter coming I am wondering what everyone’s experience is with coop heaters? I live in southeast MO so it doesn’t get horribly cold or very snowy, but we do get down in the single digits for a few weeks during winter. I know ducks don’t necessarily need heaters because they have a higher body temperature, but I don’t want to take the chance since I have a pretty big size coop for only 3 ducks. I know to not put a heat lamp in the coop in case of a fire, but I’ve seen coop specific heaters that look like a small flat screen tv and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them. Thank you in advance!

They will be fine as long as long as your coop is ventilated well, no direct cross winds at roost level, keep your water unfroze. Chickens handle cold a lot better than heat.

 

[bill3607]

They will be fine as long as long as your coop is ventilated well, no direct cross winds at roost level, keep your water unfroze. Chickens handle cold a lot better than heat.

Oh, you are talking about ducks. Forgive me, I know nothing about ducks.

 

[Canadian Wind]

No heat here and they survived fine in -50C weather.