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Barnyard Buddies:  Lights and heat in the coop  |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 05:32:20 AM
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I know everyone will answer something different, depending on where you live and what your experience has been. My husband put two heat lamps in our new coop. If we leave them on at night for heat (temps about 20 at night right now which is WAY warmer than it has been, but being new to chickens I didn't know what kind of heat they needed - esp. since he's out there solo until tonight) then there is constant light. Is it ok to have constant light? Does that mess them up? I know hens need 16 hours of light a day to lay, but what about light all the time?
Also, how cold is too cold? I know "cold" to everyone here is different, since we all live in different parts of the country, but I'm wondering if I need the lamps on at all...or when would I? If snaps of deep winter temps here get to -30 (sometimes colder at night), do I need a heater/heat lamps? It seems like everyone says something different! Some say the chickens will keep each other warm, others say they will freeze without heat...others say you don't have to worry about anything but their combs...I'm so confused!!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 08:10:39 AM
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When your temps drop below 20 and stay there, there is always a chance of frost bite, you can cover their combs and waddles with vaseline to protect them. If you insulate the coop properly, you do not need heat lamps , at least not most of the time. Heat lamps are a huge fire danger in a coop, so use extreme caution.As far as a light in your coop, I person aly never have used one and my layers , lay just fine.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 08:41:17 AM
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Do you have the red heat lamps. The light from those never seemed to bother my chickens and they would sleep like normal. I live in a warmer climate but only use my heat lamps when it gets below 20's out. We had a two week stretch of REALLY cold temps and I left them on. Once we warmed up into the upper 20's and into the 30's I turned them off.
It also depends on the breed of chicken. I have buff orpingtons which are great all weather birds. Some breeds are more susceptible to the cold though.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 08:41:40 AM
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Hey Amy - you can get red-tinted heat bulbs that will not affect the chickens' sleep cycles - that is what we have used, works fine. And chickens are pretty sturdy - our heat is inside the coop and most of the winter the chickens have chosen to roost outside in the run instead of inside - it has been a pretty mild winter though, and Minnesota has more extreme temps.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4268 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4268 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 1:55:38 PM
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I never use heat lamps for older chickens. My girls get to be tough! My coop warms up nicely during the day, with their south facing wall mostly all windows. I do have a light on for laying during the winter.
Michele |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2010 : 5:32:39 PM
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| For my own sake, we LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the heated dog bowls for water. That's what I hate, all the time bringing out water and dumping the ice. This year was the first with those heated bowls and it was awesome!!! :) It always surprises me how warm the hens stay with just feathers, but if you stick your fingers in deep in the feathers you'll see how warm it is! :) |
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Barnyard Buddies: Lights and heat in the coop |
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Lights and heat in the coop
