Do Not HEAT your CHICKEN COOP this WINTER (Try THIS Instead)

Putting a heat lamp in your chicken coop this winter might sound like what you want to do, but it might kill your chickens! Instead try these methods to keep your chickens nice and warm during these cold temps on your homestead.
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[@debraowen6723]

Hi chicken people! For water, husband shovels snow path to water. Water in in shallow bucket, sitting on a 2 ft stump with log steps to keep it out of the scratching zone and flying dirt and stays clean. For 30 years we have used an aquarium heater on a timer in winter to keep the water from freezing. It comes on at 4 afternoon to 10 morning. We live at 6200 ft in the Rockies. We don't heat our coop but do all the things this young man suggests. Haven't lost a bird yet to cold. We have had chickens live for 15 years. Not all, but some. Yeah. 15 years!🎉

[@stick9648]

Don't remember my grandparents coop being heated but I do remember the outhouse wasn't.

[@hughmanatee7433]

The best way to provide circulation is to have a small vent at the top of each gable end wall. The air gets changed but the wind doesn’t hit them directly.

[@SusanRogersMakingItWork4Me]

I follow in my Granny's footsteps, she never heated her coop. She couldn't if she wanted to. She didn't have electricity. They roosted in the coop and were "free range" during the day, she only fed them cracked corn once a day. The chickens provided eggs and meat to feed us. People these days "pamper" their chickens and it is not needed.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

[@bigjm3143]

I usually leave a candle in the cup. They sit around and toast marshmallows all night until they get tired.😊

[@curtb.]

😂

[@debbydechenne172]

In the past, I have safely used heat lamps because I dont want to find sick or dead chickens due to extreme cold weather. It happened to my son last season. Not cleaning out your coop and replacing it with fresh abundant bedding will cause coccidiosis, parasites and pneumonia. Giving high protein is a good idea. Putting a heated probe in the water to keep it from freezing up, is also essential.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

Also a clear plastic roof to allow sunlight reduces bird flu.

[@CM-ni6vc]

Thank you so much for this video that was so helpful. I'm in Minnesota and it Uber cold here. I just wanted to say I want to start raising chickens and this relieved my fear for doing it in the winter.

[@deborahelburn4720]

NC here, colder winter than usual. We use 8 hour hot hands in socks. Helps get them through the night. We use it for biddies, puppies and dogs too, even indoors. Who doesn't like warmth.

[@richarddowner4292]

that is also a great IDEA.. you can get hand, foot warmers for cheap, and they last almost 10 HOURS!! crazy great Idea.. I have used them (hand warmers) to remove Ice damming on my roof. 🤣😅😄

[@JamesGuthrie-eh5pz]

I insulated our chickens coop with exterior door window cut outs. It’s 1 1/2” thick spray foam with fiberglass on both sides. We don’t get really cold weather here in north Alabama though. Might have went overboard but I had extra insulation panels to do something with.

[@2FHomestead]

If it's any consolation, I watched every second of this video. We are just one state south of you, and our first chicks are showing up the first week of April. Thank you, I've learned a lot from your channel.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That is awesome! You will love having chickens!

[@thebabies3485]

I was watching this because of my baby chicks they seem to tolerate the cold much better than the brooder temperatures that are recommended which I don't even have. I've had them outside since I got them and did start with a heat lamp and now I started putting it on a timer. Fortunately my two Broody Mama's adopted the little guys but I had some bigger ones with wings I didn't think she would adopt but they are all huddling together for warmth. Cardboard box is kind of primitive but it's only 55 degrees at night so it offers extra insulation inside a an outdoor Coupe

[@liberta2570]

We built a solid coop with insulated walls with the run attached with a polycarbonate roof with the same for half walls to protect from wind and snow and to slow sun in the run. I will recommend the water container that warms their water.

[@Fz58]

Thanks so much for this. We're in Alaska and this coming winter will be the first for us having our chooks. Your info is very helpful. Many blessings.

[@davidgallagher7344]

When I was a boy our chicken coop was built into the side of a hill. We had a lot of chickens and in the winter their coop was warm from all the chickens body heat. It was my chore to collect eggs even on cold winter days in Colo.

[@tomjessome8029]

i think they would appreciate packing snow around the outside of koop to stop the wind going under the koop this will keep them much warmer!

[@acdcacres]

Lol, love your "special effects"! I 100% agree with many of your points. We live in Canada and don't heat our coops for the same reasons. But do many of the same things with deep litter, draft-free, good ventilation, etc.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Sometimes I wish I was better at that stuff but I found that it got the point across 🙈 and that’s great it’s nice to see people letting animals be more natural

[@erinrow399]

Can someone help me understand draft free but also good ventilation? Aren’t those contradictory?

[@acdcacres]

@@erinrow399 We vent through the roof (like soffit and fascia in a house). It’s at an angle that air can flow in and out, but wind gusts won’t barrel in and ruffle the feathers of the birds.

[@sweetseven24]

We are getting our first backyard chickens next month......thank you for these tips!

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

Suggestion- install a clear plastic roof to allow sunlight. Bird flu is caused by not enough sunlight. Also yokes are orange if you feed them greens,. Most grocers will \give you expired greens and veggies if you agree to pick them up 2 times a week !! Keep up the good work !!

[@jacobbrizammito7187]

Where can I find more info on sunlight relation and bird flu?.

[@chickentenderanna5416]

Bird flu is a virus spread from other birds.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

@@jacobbrizammito7187 We are experienced farmers and learned this. THe sad part is, even large corporations do not have common sense. We need direct sunlight daily and so do birds. All bird houses must be built with clear plastic roofs !! The birds also need to be in the sun daily ! Thanks

[@xxmadmanxx9882]

We just got our first flock at our new house. We live in New England so winter is a regular occurrence 😂. Im building a coop now to house them we have 27 total. This information is helping me design and build the coop in a way that suits them best. Thx brother

[@user-br2bf1hl6n]

Have thought of having chickens for years now. So this kind of information is really helpful especially since I live in Wisconsin. Next week to get -7 for low. I always thought you needed to have electricity to the coop for heat and that has been one thing that's held me back. The other is end of life for the birds and dealing with that. Thanks for taking the time to share. Best wishes, Deb

[@pamt8430]

when watching chicken videos and saying what is NEEDED I think back to what Mamaw and Papaw , they didn't have half of what is sold now.

[@katie7748]

​@pamt8430 Yep!! Pioneers had animals in cold climates and they managed without all this stuff...we can too!

[@ThatAnimalChannel]

I think you need to just jump right in! My chickens have brought me so much joy!! Talk to some farmers around you and pick their brain on their chicken care in your climate.

[@Bioluvskatz]

The end of life is a problem for me too. They will live to whatever age for me (I could NEVER eat them), but then what to do??? How many chickens can I bury here??

[@desertsunset8025]

Just make chicken soup when they stop laying eggs . Makes the best broth .

[@m.k.1543]

Another thing you can do is give them extra corn. The carbs help keep their temps up which keeps them warmer too.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Yes, carbs to keep them nice and fluffy for the winter!

[@katiedavis5861]

Ah why didn't I think of this? Thank you!

[@AmysAttitude]

Which also means avoiding corn in the warm temperatures as they have to work hard to process it which heats the body up

[@SilencedByYoutube]

@@AmysAttitude Absolutely wrong.. corn doesn't heat the body up. That's a myth. Corn gives them the extra calories they need to help them maintain body heat but doesn't cause any additional heat to be produced. Research before giving advice.

[@susiesukow5541]

We live in wisconsin And we do the same thing. No heater. Just a water warmer.

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

When I lived in Michigan, I had a chicken coop like in the video. The chicken door opened in to the forage tent. I used heaters that are made for under desk application. Worken great. I had heated waters in the forage tent. I now live in southern Ohio, no chickens. Now its ducks and geese!

[@Blahh992]

I live on the Canadian Prairie where wind chill can get as low as -50C. never really used a heat lamp maybe once or twice when i first got chickens. My coop however is insulated and a open vent cupola to help with ventilation. Haven't lost one to cold weather.

[@garyjenkins6629]

Here in Alabama I have my coop inside a barn. That gives lots of weather protection. I cover it with a tarp and will take other measures to keep wind out of the outside run. And plenty of cracked corn!

[@jimsteinway695]

We live in Boise which is pretty warm but we have some cold temperatures in winter but not as cold as Michigan. Thanks for the tips. We just started this spring. 3 layer hens and 4 pullets

[@thebabies3485]

Great reminders for deep litter uses. Yesss. I feel great knowing this

[@mikershawjr1]

You had me at the special effects. You pulled it off. I will be a new subscriber. Keep up the good work

[@nathaniellarson8]

Be careful with heated water buckets. Last year we melted 2 of them when the water leaked/ran out. We have the blue ones with red lids. The first time it happened, the spring that held out the nipple got stuck and drained out all the water because of a poor design. I took apart each nipple and spread the spring on one side to make it a bigger diameter and that fixed the problem. The next time was just us not checking the water soon enough.

[@marysuerichards53]

I mostly agree with what you are saying. We live in Oklahoma and don’t get the extreme temps like you guys. We do get some low temps though. Our full coop is probably 22.5’ x 7.5’ but we only use 7.5’x7.5’ for living space for our 6 hens. The ceiling is about 9’ high. So there’s no way we could fully heat the coop. We do use 1 or 2 heat lamps from time to time when temps get down in low 20’s, teens, and single digits but they only heat their area of the coop to about 10 degrees higher than outside temps. It does give them a way to warm up a bit after being outside. In addition, 2 of my girls are going through molting right now, so definitely trying to make sure they are warm. My husband having been in the construction industry for years sure helps as he knows how to set up the heat lamps for the least amount of risk possible.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for the tips Mary, and thank you for watching, you made some great points!

[@mwog7148]

Thank you for your video. We live in Northern Illinois and the winters can be hard. Finishing building our coop and I was considering insulating it but I am now thinking I shouldn't. We insulated the floor already but maybe not walls. I am nervous because I don't want to mess it up for my girls.

[@jennyneverlost8645]

Thanks. New chicken tender here. First winter. Very helpful. 😊

[@sawyerboy13]

our rooster got frostbite on his comb and waddles. so we put a heat lamp in the coop. -27 wind chill is too cold. we wrapped their run with plastic in late fall. I don't want another issue, and we love our chickens sooo much. I'm not judging your decisions though. Best of luck everyone.

[@nilasspasov8417]

I do like your videos. It is clear that you like and explore live with animals in your farm. Many good observation and suggestion as well. Thank you .

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you, this was a very nice comment to read

[@angiegold6134]

Love your videos! Have watched every one at least a twice! Thanks so much for another great one!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad you like them Angie! We are happy to have you along for our journey!

[@cottagekeeper1044]

Thank you so much for this video. I super appreciate it. We live in eastern North Carolina and are just starting our first coop. I’m really hopeful things will go well we purchased buff, Orphington chicks. I hope it will be a good fit for our climate. We get very hot and humid and very cold and wet.

[@thebabies3485]

One thing I learned about this breed is never to clip their wings they don't seem to catch much air and struggle

[@andrewperkins5483]

NC... We found that having nest boxes 12" off the floor and roosting bars just higher than the tops of their openings (26" off floor) works best for us also, feed and water is at the height of the average birds back. Very good ventilation needed along the top walls of the coop.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for the info!

[@vanesagirasol9364]

Thank you, from a chicken lover family 🥰 from WV!🥳😄

[@AcresOfAdventure]

You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed and hope you have a happy new year!

[@ladinastiafamulan4795]

I really love your video! So informative and explained to nicely. we need more of those special effects ! haha

[@TreasureFiend]

Another great video with lots of great advise, this spring we're getting some chicks.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

You will do great and you will love them! Thanks for watching

[@maricelumban3388]

Thank you for sharing your ideas.. It helps a lot..

[@maritzabatres6701]

Excellent tips. Thank you so much!😅

[@TMM716]

The compost is a great idea! Thanks for sharing

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad that it helped you!

[@gardenlife19]

Thank you for sharing.

[@ivyz2741]

very good video!!! nice to meet you!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for coming!

[@melissamccumbee8121]

Thank you! Very informative!

[@douglasbaskett2298]

Great video. I watched the one where you put the chicken hoop attached to the coop

[@jimsgardensandrabbitry]

Great tips. Blessings.

[@rockygrindstaff7312]

Thanks for the details... great job

[@AcresOfAdventure]

No problem 👍

[@SweetDecember-Dianne]

I appreciate your video, as a chicken mom I agree with you 100% you covered everything nicely done😃

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks so much! 😊 glad you enjoyed!

[@sandramartinez2463]

Thank you I’ll try this

[@billw7894]

Where did you find your nesting box unit ?

[@critter9857]

we have -30 weather and we put snow around the base and we cover tr outside of the coop with plastic, pit lots of straw and food and if its too cold like -30 for a few days then the heat la.p goes on

[@MarioLopez-ob5rv]

Smart guy...

[@smugglinpuppies]

❤ lol great personality

[@cynthiaharrell784]

Great advice.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@nogames8982]

Each chicken is as warm as a 10 W bulb. So if you have 10 chickens in the coop it's like having 100 W bulb in the coop.

[@DustinMiller1]

Those fire effects were the best lol 😂 Good Vid thank you 🙏

[@charlielewis6849]

Hay is good to put on the ground unlike straw hay has seeds in it and straw dose not so they can scratch around and get those seeds just my 2 cents God bless

[@kimberlyhoward6345]

Thanks!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

And thank you also!

[@pcinoregon]

Thanks

[@christinae.burlison936]

Appreciated the vid for sure :)

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad it helped!

[@pamelaremme38]

The number one thing to pay attention to: If you can smell ammonia in your coop the chickens can smell it x10. On the warmer days get rid of any damp straw or bedding and replace it with shavings.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Great point, thank you!

[@unacceptablesisterpeter3431]

I use dry stall pellets for horse stalls with my straw. Cuts down the humidity and ammonia. I also shovel out high poop areas (under the roost) regularly.

[@TankedFarms5151]

Thats really bad advice straw is much much better than shavings. Shaving are horrible for chickens they produce mold much faster and will not hold air and heat like straw.

[@AmysAttitude]

​@@TankedFarms5151It's a different opinion, not "bad advice." I use shavings and I've never seen a lick of mold within my coop. Might I suggest you actually cleaning yours routinely?

[@grannyshell5425]

Thank you so much for the advice!! God bless!!

[@zkiyyeller3525]

Thank you!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

You bet!

[@DiyCraftPk]

Amazing.. bro 🐓🐓👍😍

[@dudeman_1970]

My chickens sleep up in trees all year long and they are all fine. It gets down as low as 7 Fahrenheit sometimes in the winter. They’re birds they live outside and it’s ok. I never used any heat source.

[@chelseakarasch1954]

Put a hay path leading to the hoop structure and see if they make the winter trek then. I saw chickens do that on a diff channel.

[@tylerkrug7719]

Thanks 🤙

[@AcresOfAdventure]

No problem 👍

[@marknaglreiter9330]

No windy drafts, good water, and good food. That's all they need. Lots of straw for insulation.

[@normbograham]

In upstate, we only put a heat light in the coop, when the temp was below 0 Fahrenheit. The coop had a concrete floor.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

I can see why is some drastic weather why it might benefit some flocks. That would be a good idea

[@normbograham]

Opps....Our heat light, was the 40 or 60 watt. to most people "heat light", means that 200 watt red light., which just seems dangerous on many levels. the light was about 3 feet off the floor level. I would not think about using that light, on adult chickens.

[@friel49]

Thank you for this validation that they can manage the cold. I agree. How ever I don't agree they are smarter than they look. They are dumb birds period...they run on pure instinct. That's what amazing. Not being "smart" birds helped me get over wanting to see them as pets. That makes culling the flock if one gets sick easier. I take good care of my hens and they give me a great source of food that i share freely with my community. End of story. P.S. I also don't name them indivually. I name the groups I get them in. My first flock of 16 were "the hamlets" the second group of 15 were "the baconettes" the third group of 10 are the velociraptors (because they were very rowdy as chicks). You get the point. 😀

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed that video

[@dr.froghopper6711]

I’ve had chickens for years and you are correct. But ain’t nobody does chicken like a chicken. I mean, if I had to squirt out a hard shelled watermelon daily, I’d have issues too.

[@NoMoreBLUEISIS]

Your government feels the same way about you 😂

[@liberta2570]

I disagree. Chickens are smarter than they look.... At least my chickens are pretty smart. They even love piano music.

[@blytheblythe5537]

I can call each of my hens to me by name , they have better recall than most dogs . For the size of their brain it’s pretty impressive

[@jerriscollins-ruth9019]

I only use regular light bulbs. No heat just light and shredded paper fir nests.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That sounds like a good idea!

[@SiljeMeum]

Is this an insulated coop? I'm looking at chicken coops atm, but most of the coops I see are not insulated. We absolutely get temps of -30F and 80-90F in the summer here in Norway. Thanks for a great video!

[@jacobbrizammito7187]

We moldy floor and respiratory problems after a few seasons of deep litter plus spilled leaky waterers and poor air exchange. So it can be done well or not well.

[@jerriscollins-ruth9019]

I also heal in my coops and their yard with straw bales. Works great.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thanks for that tip!

[@ashleyshayday1526]

Does anybody have any advice they would like to share on building a chicken coop that keeps the chickens nice and warm in the winter time and what to do for them during the summer time when it's especially blistering hot and humid in Alabama and how you take care of your chickens and breed them year round? I'm just interested in learning more about this.

[@jampackedfamilycountrylivi8022]

Thanks for the tips and freezing your beard for us!

[@quackerfarm1234]

My uncle has solar powered fans that draw the smell and circulate the air in his chicken coop and part of his roof is also greenhouse panels so light comes through to help keep it warm in there

[@AcresOfAdventure]

That is a great idea, thank you for that information!

[@sandybasslady1415]

What kind of bedding are you using?

[@yzrider3326]

Are you located in Michigan? I’ve been looking at buying a coop that looks exactly like yours. Wondering how it’s holding up ?

[@darkshaman7087]

My poultry are open all year around they can came as they like if they get to cold they will go back in their coop

[@jessicaj8148]

I like that little hut. Reminds me of what Edible Acres does. Did you make it or was it a kit?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Some one local made it and delivered it to us

[@jessicaj8148]

@@AcresOfAdventure I need to find someone to do that. I know it can be made here by myself or husband. But it would be nice to have one done lol. It would save a lot of arguments

[@devmeistersuperprecision4155]

The only thing I would say is this. The chickens with large pointy combs can have the tips freeze back.

[@scottarmstrong7507]

Where did you get that metal nesting box from?

[@sarahlawlor9920]

The heat lamp we had in ours burn our whole house down, but the chickens lived somehow

[@chulasexychica11]

Will my chickens die if i move to a 10 degree colder temperatures than 50 to 60 degree night averages? I have 6yr old chickens and moving to a different area where temperatures go down to 15 degrees and i sometimes put a heat lamp for them at 50 degree night because their coop had a very ventilated coop that was temporary and all i could afford.

[@patshallick6487]

Can you put bails of straw around the house can that help to keep them warmer?

[@blujen1642]

I gotta ask, why didn't you pop the Tarped Run/Shelter in front of the Chicken Door for the Winter? Totally agree no heat lamps. Cupola can help with Air Circulation too. Deep Litter is Brilliant! Great Videos BTW Loved the Fun Run you built onto the Coop.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you so much!

[@LeahHolmquist]

My grammar would give her chickens cornmeal mush with chili pepper in it.

[@joycebennett.]

Who built your coop I love the nesting baskets

[@AcresOfAdventure]

We had some local to us build them!

[@kdsmooth43000000]

If I have a heated water source close outside my chic coop should I put a smaller one inside my coop on the coldest days? Or would cold breeds be ok until they come out the next morning?

[@Bioluvskatz]

Going into my first chicken winter. Really nervous about it. Have a panel heater that I thought I’d use on really cold days but am now rethinking that.

[@ThatAnimalChannel]

Im in the same boat! Nervous about this winter!

[@rickszabo4312]

Well I have raised bearded Polish and Silkes in northern Canada for 11 years , the oldest chicken will be 11 next month, I have a very well insulated 4 by 8 by 7feet high coop and an attached covered and penned outdoor area, I have heated the coop with a 24" long 120 volt thermostatically controlled baseboard heater ,it's set at about 60F or 15c it works just fine.

[@N8Dogg1002]

Stay warm my guy!

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you brother!

[@isaacunrau5255]

No 'X' in especially

[@jugeebean]

What chicken coop door do u use

[@roykelly5486]

can you freeze the warm grub for winter feeding? eh

[@Dina-vk1rv]

I love your chicken coop, can you let me know where did you get it?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Custom made locally by Amish

[@pamelaremme38]

I got rid of my Sweet heater infra red for that reason. They even told me they hated it. They wouldn't roost on their favorite roosting spot. As soon as they got out from under it.....shock to their systems and cold for them. I immediately removed it and returned it.

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Great to hear Pamela!

[@juliannedispain1637]

Another great video. What size is your coop?

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Thank you! I believe it is 5x8 feet

[@juliannedispain1637]

@@AcresOfAdventure Thank you

[@TMM716]

Are you in the mid MI area?

[@richarddowner4292]

IF, key word is IF. If you do a heat lamp or a heat source. just make sure it's on a GFI outlet. this is the safest way to do it!!!! the GFI will pop faster than a standard breaker will. just saying. I have in the winter a thermo auto stat the turns on a 40 watt light bulb (incandescent) under the water to keep the water from freezing. it turns on at 32 degs and shuts off at 40 degs. way cheaper than a 100 watt water heater. been using this method for 15 years, even at an average of 3 degs for days....

[@stick9648]

Never saw an incandescent bulb in water , one cold drop on a bulb and it would shatter.