Do We Use Heat Lamps on Our Chickens?
Here at Ellie and Her Chickens, we call the upper Midwest in the United States home. With occasional lows of -40 degrees, Minnesota has one of the lowest average temperatures of the 48 contiguous states. Unbelievable, I know.
We are "on the fence" about utilizing heat lights in our chicken coops, even at such soaring temps. Let's examine the advantages and disadvantages.
Cons of Heat Lamp Use
1. Disallowing your hens to adjust to the weather naturally.
My hens must also be chilly if I'm cold, right? Our natural inclination is to provide our daughters with loving attention. The reality is that chickens are very versatile, and with enough time, any dual-purpose bird can adapt. This is why it's crucial to let your birds to molt and develop the warm winter feathers they need when the seasons and temperatures change. You've undoubtedly seen the layers of their plumage as they are molting, which traps air close to their bodies to keep them warm. When you see them fluff and ruffle their feathers, they are making air holes that appear to be insulting.
Remember that hens have a strong metabolic rate that helps keep them warm in the cold as well. The typical resting temperature is between 105 and 109 degrees Fahrenheit, and the normal heart rate is 400. So, based on the number of hens in your coop, they can produce enough heat to keep themselves warm.
2. Heating up your coop excessively.
If possible, chickens will choose to nest outdoors rather than in a coop that is excessively heated. When we first put in a 250-watt bulb, we observed right away that our hens continued to stay outdoors and even deposited eggs outside. They were back in their coop in no time after we promptly made the necessary repairs. Remember that each hen emits enough heat to match a 10-watt bulb, and that their feathers actually keep them warm.
3. Starting a fire that burns down your coop and flock.
Fire is the largest risk when utilizing heat lamps. When it comes to starting fires, heat lights pose a serious risk. A fire might easily ignite if a 150-250 watt bulb was placed near several flammable items, such as dried hay, feathers, wood shavings, etc. It's not a nice notion, but there's also a chance that a chicken may fly into the lamp, catch fire from its feathers, and set the whole coop and flock within on fire. Or, a clumsy hen can accidentally knock a light over and create a fire.
To avoid fires and other calamities if you use a heat lamp, be sure to:
Avoid flammable fuels, and keep the lamp a safe distance from anything that can melt or catch fire.
When utilizing extension cords, look for cuts or other types of damage.
Seal cord connections while connecting several cables to prevent circuit shorting and connector corrosion.
Use the appropriate lighting since not all lighting is made equal.
Benefits of Heat Lamp Use
1. More exposure to light may increase egg production.
The typical hen need 14 hours of sunshine to be stimulated into laying an egg. You'll see more eggs being produced as the days become longer and warmer in the spring and summer. However, as autumn and winter approach and the amount of sunshine declines, egg production may decline. By employing lamps and exposing your ladies to more light, you may influence this natural cycle and improve the likelihood of egg production from your flock.
Any additional lighting should be installed in the early hours since abrupt darkness might drive hens to fear and crowd together in a corner, where they may then choke one another. Chickens will naturally go to the coop with the lowering sun if more light is applied in the morning rather than the evening.
2. Prevents cracked eggs.
Once an egg is deposited, the shell must remain intact to protect it from germs and other creatures. Eggs may freeze and fracture if temperatures dip too low. They get polluted and unusable after that. In order to avoid throwing away any of the eggs your diligent females produce, keep the coop above freezing.
3. Prevents disease and fatalities in the flock.
It might take more energy for aged, frail chickens in your flock to create the heat necessary to keep them warm during the chilly months. In order to prevent them from becoming ill from the cold, using heat lamps may assist keep them warm. Because sick animals take longer to recuperate, they may eventually infect other chickens, making the whole flock sick.
It's up to you whether or not to use heat lights in your chicken coop. You may evaluate the advantages and disadvantages to choose what is best for your chickens. However, according to our study and what we've learned from our own experiences, hens often don't require heat lamps.
I know it's crazy!
As long as they have a means to keep dry and out of the wind, most chicken-care experts agree that your typical dual-purpose chicken breed will do just well without any additional heating. (Things are a little bit different if you're brooding chicks since chicks require extra heat until they mature—unless you have a mom hen, of course.)
