HOW And WHEN To Heat Your CHICKEN Coop!

[@tonyrichmond9428]

Good video. The question always sparks arguments! I'm fortunate to have lows in the 30s overnight and 50s during the day. Before you get too envious though, check back with me in the dog days if summer...

[@melissabreedlove8211]

This is probably the best video I have seen on this subject! Thank you.

[@jeremygoatcher9539]

Temperatures where I live swing wildly from overnight lows of 50 to overnight lows of 12 within the span of a day or two. I have been using supplemental heat to keep the coop at about 40-45, and I only use it at night. I ran this by my local vet and he said that I was right to provide supplemental heat. So I guess what I'm saying is there are exceptions to the rule. Thank you for the video, it was very informative.

[@whatintheheck4692]

The deep litter method sounds interesting, I’m going to have to check out that video that goes more in depth. Thank you for the info!!

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

It’s been so helpful! And to make it even better it begins the composting process for you so it gives you a head start on moving the bedding into the garden to feed your plants. Such a nutrient rich compost! We have been using that method for about 3 years now

[@mikemacinnes6120]

Good video brother. I’m in NJ I have heat plates in each coop like you have. 40-60 bucks everyone should have just in case. Even the wet cold days I think the heat plate helps dry them off. My coops are 3/4 covered with poly roof. Was little pricey but helps keep the mud out! Love watching your videos you should be auctioner lol

[@solinvictus6424]

I put heat on for lower temperatures. Not a lot of heat just to cut the chill. They don't need it but as someone said in another video. Your chickens will be happier. Like with me and my lazy boy chair. I don't need it but I'm happier sitting in it.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

😂 a good lazy boy is definitely nice! I think I can empathize with that more than people saying they need it. I can definitely understand just wanting them to be happy! So far the coldest we have gotten is about 15 degrees and it was only once. Other than that we have been sitting in the 30’s and 40’s, I’ve never seen a winter so mild here!

[@onemoredoll5791]

While I may be in zone 9 but we still get snow and high winds but we have an open air coop and they do ok. We add clear roofing to the sides. We used to feed Scratch and Peck but their costs have skyrocketed in the past year. I have switched to another organic brand.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Keeping that wind down goes such a long way!

[@jmank121]

What Brand of organic feed do you use?

[@onemoredoll5791]

@@jmank121 New Country Organics. A local feed store started carrying it and its $20 less a bag. Many people come to this feed store from hours away to get it. I am able to still ferment it. I love Scratch and Peck too but I just can't keep up with the price hikes. My local feed store carried that as well but they said they had no choice to raise it $10 a bag again a few months ago. My local feed supply also began carrying local organic solider fly larvae. Thankfully at the price Azure Standard was 2 years ago.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

@onemoredoll5791 I wish I had a store like that around here!

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I'm fortunate that I don't live where it gets too cold except last year with the Arctic Blast but every one was dealing with extreme cold then. I'm doing the deep litter method but I do have to clean it out more frequently because I'm using a large dog crate as a coop for my 5 hens. After losing two to raccoons, I've placed wire fencing and other things including a moving blanket to protect them from raccoons and the cold. I have an egg in the coop I have to retrieve soon. But blocking the wind on the top and bottom and having the deep litter method has been perfect for them. We'll see in January when we finally get snow for a few hours or a few days how it all goes but so far, so good.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

I remember that arctic blast! It got SO COLD in so many places. Nice! Yeah so far we have gotten about a half inch of snow and hardly any freezing weather. We are the state with the “greatest snow on earth” as our license plates say and our ski resorts are barely staying open.

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I'm from Detroit, Michigan originally and grew up with lots of snow but I have never liked the snow. I can't handle the cold too well either. I complain when there's just a slight amount of snow lol. But I also couldn't handle extreme heat either.

[@AshleyPotter-n1j]

You said you have a heated water dish- what brand/kind is that plate under the bucket? I haven't seen that before

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

It’s funny you ask this today because today’s video talked about it! I didn’t talk about the brand because I honestly don’t even remember the brand but there is a link in the description of the video I posted today for it! But more or less it’s a “heated chicken water base” off of Amazon!

[@solinvictus6424]

I like Peck and Scratch. It's the best feed I have found but I can't support the cost. So I go with another that is close to Peck and Scratch.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

The cost is definitely the downside, it’s a lot. Around here I haven’t been able to find anything that comes even close to it though so I’m going to stick with them! Either way, it sounds like you’ve been able to find a good healthy feed for them and that’s awesome!

[@T1gerfang]

We have a well ventilated coop. We live in zone 8a. In the worst part of winter it gets into the teens. As of right now (end of December) it gets as low as mid twenties. Our hens are showing signs of frostbite on their combs. None of the tips have fallen off but they're grayish compared to their usual red. We've tried the deep litter method but it remains too humid in there even with the (honestly too much) ventilation. Within a week it stinks of ammonia. It's ridiculous. We only have 9 chickens and 5 ducks. We don't keep a duck pool in the coop. Just the waterer they all share. The feed we use is a mix of 24% meat bird feed (mostly corn and soybean meal), alfalfa, and black oil sunflower seeds. We split their feed into twice daily. Their feed averages about 16-18% protein. First thing in the morning, and about an hour before sunset is when we feed. We usually leave extra food in the coop when we shut them up shortly after sunset knowing the corn in the feed helps to warm them up. Even though we are mostly staying in the high 20s or low 30s in the early morning. We STARTED using a 250 watt heat lamp aimed at the roosting bars. It stays about 28-33 in the coop in the coldest part of the morning which is basically the same as the outside temperature. The lamp is held up high attached at 3 different points to prevent it from being able to fall. It has a metal grill thing covering the bulb. The heat lamp has stopped the continued damage to our chicken's combs. We don't have a generator to ensure the coop remains heated. But since the coop itself remains the same temperature as outside other than where the light hits, we don't feel it's necessary. The chickens choose if they want in the warm light or not. We may have to invest in a dehumidifier even though the coop is just a "hoop coop" with tarps on it. It's too wet in there.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Oh that’s rough! Do you have a humid climate to begin with? Where we are it’s extremely dry so that definitely helps us. Do the ducks make a mess of the water? When we had ducks it was so hard to manage because they played in the water constantly and soaked the coop, it was rough! Either way, good luck!

[@T1gerfang]

During the day it's as low as 8% humidity in the summer but during the winter according to my Govee temperature hygrometer I put in the coop it's as high as 98%. Right now it's 46 degrees and it says 88.7% humidity. It makes NO sense. It's well ventilated and the door is open as well. I checked the history and last night it rained and inside the coop was 95% humidity. The past week the highest humidity was 88%. It's always highest between 2 and 7am. Around 7am is when the sun starts shining on the ground as is high enough over the mountain to shine on us. I don't know what to do. We cannot make the coop any MORE ventilated LOL The ducks often do make a mess with the water but in the coop it's a standard metal chicken waterer. They don't *need* to be able to dip their entire bills overnight, they have a big pool in the fenced in area they run to in the mornings when they are let out of the coop. But generally they don't spill much of the water. I do see a wet spot on the shavings consistently from the waterer though. We learned NOT to have a little pool in the coop because of the mess they make. Haha. I had the temperature device outside of the coop for a few days and it's similar humidity inside vs outside - so I don't think ducks are causing the high humidity - it's mostly our climate. I live in the desert southwest about an hour away from Las Vegas. We may have to remove the tarp on the back of the coop (south side) to help the sun dry out the bedding during the day. Either that or we may need to put a dehumidifier in it? i don't have a freaking clue what to do.@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead

[@melindaroth5796]

Great information Brother Brandon. Thank you so much for teaching us 😊 GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER IN JESUS NAME AMEN AND AMEN 😊

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Thank you!

[@noellewithane6111]

They can eat chicken scraps. Lol