Here at Ellie and Her Chickens, we live in the frigid upper midwest. Minnesota has one of the lowest average temperatures of the contiguous United States with temperate getting down to -40 degrees at times. Shocking, I know.
However, even at those extreme temperatures, we’re “on the fence” about using heat lamps in our chicken coops. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Cons of Using Heat Lamps
1. Not allowing your chickens to naturally change with the weather.
If I’m cold, then my chickens must be cold too, right?!? Our instinct is to be loving caregivers to our girls. However, the facts are that chickens are very adaptable, and any duel-purpose chicken can adapt given time. This is why it’s very important to let your birds acclimate to the change in temperatures and seasons and allow them to molt, growing the warm winter feathers they need. When they are molting, you’ve probably seen the layers of their plumage, which traps air near their bodies, keeping them warm. If you see them fluff and ruffle their feathers, they are creating gaps of air, which act like insultation.
Also keep in mind that chickens have a high metabolic rate that keeps them warm in the winter. The average resting temperature is around 105-109F with heart rates around 400 beats per minute. So, depending on how many hens you have in your coop, they can generate enough heat to keep themselves nice and toasty.
2. Making your coop too hot.
Chickens will naturally avoid a coop that’s too warm and will prefer to lay outside if they are able to. We initially installed a 250-watt bulb, but instantly noticed that our chickens remained outside and even laid outside. We quickly made adjustments, and they were back in their coop in no time. Remember that their feathers do keep them warm and each hen gives off enough heat to equal a 10-watt bulb.
3. Creating a fire and destroying your flock and coop.
The biggest threat of using heat lamps is fire. Heat lamps are extremely hazardous when it comes to creating fires. Exposing a 150-250-watt bulb to lots of combustible materials, like dry hay, feathers, wood saving, etc., could eastly start a fire. It’s not a pretty thought, but you also run the risk of a chicken flying into the lamp and its feathers catching fire, burning down the whole coop and flock that’s in it. Or, a careless hen could kick over a lamp and start a fire.
If you do use a heat lamp, to prevent fires and any tragedies from happening, be sure to:
- Stay away from combustible fuels and distance the lamp far enough away from anything that could melt or catch fire.
- If you’re using extension cords, check for any damage like cuts or abrasions.
- When connecting multiple cables, make sure to seal cord connections so they don’t short the circuit and corrode the connectors.
- Use the right light fixtures because not all fixtures are created equal.
Pros of Using Heat Lamps
1. Additional light exposure can lead to greater egg production.
Typically, the average hen needs 14 hours of daylight to stimulate them to lay an egg. When we enter the warmer months of spring and summer and daylight is increased, you’ll notice more eggs being produced. However, once fall and winter roll around and daylight decreases, egg production can slow down. When you manipulate this natural cycle by using lamps and exposing your girls to more light, you increase the potential of egg laying from your flock.
“Any supplemental light should be added during the morning hours, as sudden darkness can cause chickens to panic and pile up in a corner, which can consequently cause them to suffocate each other. By applying extra light in the morning rather than the evening, chickens will naturally go to roost with the setting of the sun.”
2. Prevents eggs from cracking.
To keep bacteria and other organisms out of an egg once it’s laid, you need the shell to stay intact to protect it. When temperatures drop too low, eggs can freeze and then crack. Once that happens, they are contaminated and become inedible. Keep the coop above freezing so you don’t waste any eggs produced by your hard-working girls.
3. Prevents sickness and death among the flock.
When you have old, weak hens in your flock, it can take more energy for them to produce the heat needed to keep them warm during the cold months. Using heat lamps can help keep them warm so they don’t become sick from the cold. Sick birds take longer to recover, which means over time, they can spread their illness to other hens, causing the whole flock to become ill.
When it comes to using heat lamps in your chicken coop, it’s a personal decision. You can weigh the pros and cons and figure out what is best for your hens. But, from what we’ve researched and learned from our own experience is that most of the time, chickens don’t really need heat lamps.
Crazy, I know!
“Most chicken-care experts will agree that your average dual-purpose chicken breed will do just fine without any supplemental heating, as long as they have a way to stay dry and out of the wind. (If you’re brooding chicks, things are a little bit different, since chicks need supplemental heat until they mature– unless you have a mama hen, of course.)”
Our Conclusions
We use a low level (40-watt) lightbulb during our shortest months, not for heat but mainly for light exposure.
Just upon observations, our girls generally avoid the lamps and roost wherever they choose. We’ve found the best way to keep them warm in the winter is plenty of straw or hay bedding, a solid roof, and wind block. But you want to also make sure they have enough ventilation because moisture inside a coop can cause mold and fungus to grow and make your hens sick or become fatal. It’s also vitally important to give your chickens plenty of water and if possible, a fatty food source like grubs that contain good amounts of fats. Since staying warm has higher caloric requirements, be sure to supplement their diets.
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Resources:
- https://www.hort.purdue.edu/tristate_organic/poultry_2007/Light%20Management.pdf
- https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-my-chickens
- https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2015/01/chickens-need-heat-lamp.html
- https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chicken-coops-housing/do-chickens-need-heat-in-winter-coop-heating
- https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/chicken-coops-housing/4-safety-precautions-when-using-a-chicken-heat-lamp