I've had chickens for 3 years now and had somewhat believed what everyone says that they are "fine" in the cold. Like you, my own observations tell a very different story. It never felt right to me and I've always worried when it gets really cold. Thank you for helping me trust and honor my own experience over "experts" on the internet. Sweeter heaters on the way now. I can just imagine how much happier the flock will be all snug and warm on their perches. If we bring beings into our care, we owe it to them to prevent suffering and give them what they need to thrive.
That’s what I’ve come to think as well. I felt terrible seeing their injuries sustained by listening to what others said I should do. I sleep better knowing there’s a some heat in their coops when it’s -20 at night.
Thanks for sharing this! I think there are a lot of us out there who just know in our guts that so much of the conventional advice isn't right. It doesn't match up with what our chickens are telling us. And when you start looking into the scientific research that's been done on chickens, the backyard advice doesn't match up with that either. So glad you're getting a Sweeter Heater for your girls. They will love it!
I am coming around on this issue too. I am told they don't need heat and they are good to about 0 degrees. But I can see they are cold, and when the low's get into the teens their combs start freezing. I don't see the effects until a couple of days - they get black spots on their combs a few days after a cold snap. That cannot be pleasant to endure. And the weather does not just gradually turn colder during the winter, its up and down drastically all the time! So they can never quite adjust to the extreme cold. Plus you add in the fact that you have some older birds, I'm sure that has an effect on their ability to cope as well. 1-2 year old birds probably do better than 3-4 year old birds. To me, all those issue add up to the fact that they need some heat.
I had a similar experience as you. I started out assuming the consensus was right (because why wouldn't they be?) and that my chickens would be happy in my winter weather, which is much warmer than many places where people are keeping chickens. My chickens' behavior told me something else. Since making this video a couple years ago, I've done a lot of research into the scientific literature on chickens in the cold, which all agrees that chickens will warm their environment if given a choice (by pressing a lever, for example) and that they're happiest and healthiest in non-winter temps. I'll be sharing this info in future videos, although not this year. You're also very right about older hens needing the heat more. I have a mostly geriatric flock now, and if not for their heated coop, there are a few I would have culled out of kindness before winter hit. (Not quite true - Let's be real, they would have actually become house chickens, but if that wasn't an option, I would have culled.) Glad you're coming around. Best of luck to you and your flock! 💕 Bri
@@thefeatherbrainI would love to see this study. I put a heater on one roosting bars and let them choose and they chose the warm one, so now I heat them both and the run because NC has been cold this year and my birds started molting in Dec. I have one naked right, still. She is the last one. ❤
Ex-researcher here. Love all your videos, please keep showing us your feathered lovelies! (Gosh I can't believe that there are people who believe that frostbite for any creature is ok...! ). Btw would you consider doing a video showing all the various hen and rooster behaviour/calls? I find that topic to be endlessly fascinating!
I hear you! I'm hoping sometime in our lifetime people look back at the way so many chickens are raised now and say, "How barbaric!" I've actually been considering doing a series of short videos called "Fowl language" that's all about chicken communications - both vocal and body language... Not sure when I'll actually do it, but it's an idea I've been playing with for some time. Glad to know you are interested in behavior/calls too - that's my favorite topic!
This works be very interesting! We have a Speckled Sussex rooster that keeps tge flock in a tense state all the time. The hens definitely respond to his calls.
Thank you sooooooooo much for this video…I live in Northern Michigan and it’s been sooooo cold and we now heat their coop. My chickens were shivering , not anymore! Never agreed with the “not having heat in their coop”😮
I have a product similar for my cockatiels and my chickens. I live in TN and everyone says not to use heat because they don’t need it. I disagree!! Last year we had lows of -5 and many lost their birds. My chickens would otherwise be in the spare bedroom so the radiant heater is wonderful alternative for us. 😂 Love your videos!😊
I also live in TN, central area and last year, being our first winter with them, was stressful for all. Wrapping the run with plastic helped with the wind chill but wished we would have had the heaters. Though the heat lamps helped we felt it a little intense. Infrared use this year has made them much happier especially as they perch and keeps the coop dryer.
I lost my favorite 5 mo. old rooster, Buster, to the cold recently. At least I think that was the cause. He didn't seem happy outside, but I didn't see it coming :( I did go get a heat lamp with the protective grating after he died, but will check out the Sweeter Heaters. Even with just the one lamp, they all seem happier outside during the day. And I want to keep my 8 yr. old Buff (Buttercup) happy and thriving as long as possible! You put a lot of effort into this video - thank you!
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, Skye. Poor buster! Chickens can be so good at hiding discomfort - I often don't know I have a problem until it's too late. At least your heater should prevent any further losses to cold. Sending hugs your way. Bri
I always feed my chickens more in the winter as they burn more calories trying to keep warm. I also use hot tap water to warm their existing water source in the freezing cold mornings so they aren't drinking freezing water. Wood shavings are good for bedding warmth too.
Oh my goodness! Who wouldn’t heat their coop on the off chance that the electricity might go out? Do they also not heat their home so that THEY will be acclimated to the cold when the electricity goes out?? Poor chickens! I totally agree with Pearly! I am shocked that people elect not to provide basic care for the animals in their charge. I have two chicken coops. BOTH are heated and it is VERY clear that the chickens appreciate the warmth. Thank you for your chicken videos. I love them!
I love your chicken videos. I’m from Michigan and I had most of my chickens molted in December and January . I used the cozy coop heater but next winter I’m trying the Sweeter heater. It gives me peace of mind to know my chickens aren’t suffering out there. I also enjoyed your videos on sand in the coop/run. It helped me pick the right sand out and save lots of money on bedding. Thanks for all the great information ! :)
We have been hit hard this winter & we just lost our Rooster due to frostbite,2 of our hens are currently recovering in the garage..I just order the large heater & could care less what the "experts" say...I'm not loosing anymore due to the cold..thanks so much..
Good for you! You are the expert on your flock. When people ask me why? They will survive without heat, I always say, “ I don’t want my pets to just survive, I want them to thrive. It is mean that they will watch their birds struggle and freeze because they make it through alive? So barely surviving is ok with them.
I have 5 chickens and a small radiant panel. We had a cold snap so i decided to turn it on. I checked them right before and they were regularly roosted, and checked them 15 minutes later and they were all crammed closer to the heat source 😅. Mine loved it. We have some negative temps heading our way and our first winter so hoping the cozy coop panel is sufficient in staving off frost bite.
Thank you so much for this! This is my first year as a chicken keeper and I want to do what’s best for my chickens. We had -40 F days last winter, so for sure I’m getting the Sweeter Heater!!
I have a sweeter heater in my coop too. We rarely get snow in the south but we just had a week of temps in the single digits, not counting the wind chill and even though it does not put out a lot of heat, it did make a difference in the overall temp in the coop. We are back to normal winter temps now so I have unplugged it as they don’t need it. However, when it was 4* to negative 4* even during the day, I knew I had to do something. We all slept better at night. My girls don’t have combs or large waddles (EE’s &Americaunas) so I didn’t worry about frost bite but they def spent more time during the day in the coop. They didn’t seem to have any problem at all with the new coop addition. I guess they were just too cold to care.
I just recently heard of someone whose whole flock died by freezing to death overnight. If I lived in a cold climate, I would definitely use these heaters. I just can't get over the cruelty of letting chickens freeze to death. We used the radiant heaters for our ducklings and our easter egger chicks and they loved them! I loved how much safer they are than the dreaded red bulb lights. I even threw in a low-wattage seed starting mat, covered with a cloth, for them to sit on, which they also loved!
@@thefeatherbrain Thank you for all the great information. I have learned so much watching your videos and reading your blog. I appreciate you and so do my girls🐔❣
Its amazing to see a video emphasising radiant heaters! I live in Canada and am planning a coop and it can get very cold (-22 F, or colder), I can't imagine not heating. I was thinking about a wall application of radiant tile heating (what people have under their bathroom floor) but that would have some challenges. A seperate kind of heater would be great. So grateful for this video!
So my thought has always been "if im cold then they're cold too." So i heat my coop and dont care about what anybody has to say. I live in upstate ny and our winters go from 20 degrees to -20 degrees
We have opposite weather where I am down south, however, the heat can be life threatening to chickens so many precautions must be taken. I keep a large fan inside the coop, ice packs in the water, spray the run with water and of course a covered run.
If a person had a south facing slope, they could build their coop nestled into the hill plus have part or all of the front glass or clear plastic for solar gain. Also burying a pipe 6-8 feet in the ground to let the consistent 58 degree temp come to the surface would regulate the temp year round. It wouldn't be as snug as the sweeter heaters, but it would be better than bare tin coop with nothing...if people don't want to run electricity to their coop. The usual about predator proofing applies. The materials could be scavenged to save money. I'm a nerd about anything that gives an obscene gesture to the power company. :)
Perly knows he's beautiful too. That's why I let him get away with anything. :) So glad you're getting Sweeter Heaters! Your chickens will thank you! Bri
Ooomigosh, Perly. 😂 What a funny chicken! Love your videos, Bri!! Thank you for this information... we definitely have some chilly fluffy buns right now. I've got a chicken I need to send you a clip of. She makes a call I can only describe as, "MOOOOM!! MOOOOOOOOM!!!!!" Clearly, she's a momma's girl, and a bit needy. Been trying to cut the cord, so to speak, but I just want to make sure she's not saying something else entirely, like, "DAD!! DAAAAAAD!!!"
Do the sweeter heaters that attach to the wall vertically instead of hang overhead work the same way and are they just as affective in keeping the chickens warm.???
Thanks for this! I agree that just because they can survive (mostly) very cold temps does not mean they are thriving and comfortable. Question: We are down in CO, and have a similar climate to yours; at what temp do you turn on your sweeter heaters ?
I don't have a perfect answer for when YOU should turn the heater on, but I'll tell you how I think about it. The thermoneutral zone of chickens is 60-75 degrees (this is the temperature range where chickens are most comfortable), so I turn the heater on when it's in the 50s. The studies on the thermoneutral range were done on red junglefowl and layer Rhode Island Red chickens, so it's possible the range for other ("cold hardy") backyard birds is lower. (But I have chickens who appear uncomfortable in the 50s.) If you feel like the 50s are too high (i.e., your chickens aren't cold), then watch how your chickens behave. When they appear to be cold, turn the heater on. I have a video that talks about when chickens show signs of cold - you'll find it at 7 minutes into this video - th-cam.com/video/hTYVXDpmeh4/w-d-xo.html At the bare minimum, turn the heater on at 35 degrees. Chickens are subject to frostbite at 32 degrees, so I always recommend having a heater on before they reach that temperature. Best, Bri
What temperature about would you start using these heaters in the winter? Here In Oregon our coldest months are January and February and the temps are usually 30s and 40s then I believe.
It completely depends on how my birds are acting. At a minimum, I recommend plugging them in whenever the temperature approaches freezing (to avoid frostbite). I usually end up plugging them in when it's warmer, though - for me, in October - when temperatures are in the 40s-50s during the day simply because I have a lot of molting chickens then who shiver like crazy and look miserable without them.
We just finished building our first coop. We insulated all 4 walls and the roof. Would it still be necessary to put a heater in? I just see a lot of coops with no insulation.
we do not have a lot of days that stay under freezing but if it going to stay below 40 degrees for more than 24 hour i place oil filled heaters and set it where the coop stays at 50 - 70 degrees with the chicken door open 50 degrees and locked at night at 70 degrees and move all the chickens in to the heated coop
Thank You for this video. This year I have had 1 of my girls die and knew this was not normal. I know what to do for egg bound but I don't care if they don't lay in the winter. I look for that too.
Thank you for all your videos ❤I have questions, in winter time if it’s more warm inside the coop…when they go outside they have contrasted weather and they are not use to it, and then they have a reaction from cold no? ❤
I've found that mine do better in the cold outside when they are able to warm up inside under the Sweeter Heaters when they need to. Before my coops had sweater heaters, the chickens spent a lot more time puffed up inside the coop, not wanting to go out. Now, they spend more time being active outside during the day. The Sweeter Heaters are especially nice at night when temperatures drop A LOT. You could always just run your Sweeter Heaters at night - that's always an option.
Enjoyed your video, I am fairly new to raising chickens, this is my 3 year. I had my first broody moma chicken who hatched out 10 chicks We put moms and baby chicks in brooder with heat lamp. It is November17 and the chicks are10 days old, I know they will out grow our brooder they are in now so I'm trying to figure out something for moma hen and baby chicks with winter coming on. I live in Kentucky and the weather is all over the place, 60 in the day and 30s at night. Any ideas for my new chicks and Moms hen would be appreciated thanks for all your advice😊
I actually have that number! I have a separate power hook-up on my property for a potential future RV - that hook-up comes with its own power bill. Right now, the only thing that's powered by that hookup is 2 large sweeter heaters (you can see them in my largest coop in the video). Those 2 large Sweeter Heaters are on 24/7 in the winter months and the electric bill for that is $25/month. Well worth it for chickens' health and comfort! Of course, this will vary by state - for example, I live in Southern Idaho now and power is considerably more expensive than when I lived in Southwest Montana, but still, $25/month for two large heaters 24/7 is NOT prohibitively expensive for most people. If that's too much for you, then just plug them in at night when your chickens need them most! And if you only need one heater, cheaper still!
And actually, now that I've just reviewed my electric bills for that hook-up, even in the warmer months, when the Sweeter Heaters aren't plugged in (and so NOTHING is drawing power), my power bill is still $5, just for the existence of the hook-up. So that means the 2 large sweeter heaters are only costing me about $20/month, not $25.
What would be alternatives to providing heat? Here in Montana where I live the wind and even below freezing cold temps can knock out power for sometimes hours to days even a week on end I mean if it came to that I’d make sure the coop is winterized before winter hit and provide bedding to keep warm But just curious
I need to get better about leaving comments before the video is over. I'll incorporate one of these into the coop we're getting ready for our chicks next month.
I know this video is older, but I have to ask. Do your chickens try to roost on top of the heater? I feel like mine would try to get on top of the heater if hung above the roost.
Mine haven't. Well, there was one attempt by a smaller hen at first. Because of the way they are hung, they don't stay still enough if they're bumped or jumped on to allow roosting. I haven't had any issues with it. Plus, they pretty quickly figured out that under the heater was much nicer than trying to be on top of it. If you're really concerned about them trying to get up there, you might want to cover the chains they hang from with something like pex tubing or something to keep them from getting their toes stuck in the links of the chains. I'd think that would be the biggest danger.
Im going to heat my coop. Why? Well they have combs. Despite being cold hardy my chickens have frost bite on the combs. My coop is the driest darn coop around.... so yeah im heating
I hear you - I know I'm lucky this has worked out for me. It sounds like you want the best for your birds. We can all only do what we're capable of doing with our current set ups. Thanks for commenting! Bri
Why do people think they have to heat an entire henhouse to keep their hens warm? HALVE that coop behind a shower curtain or cardboard wall in front of the ROOST where they sleep so they can use their own body heat to heat that smaller space. When they chill, they can duck behind it for a warm up and then come out again to the run. In fact, there should be 'warm up stations' all through the run in winter, where chickens can keep warm apart for DOMINANT hens in their own 'doghouse' warm up station. Nobody has to heat anything. Just give them more cubbies, just like they'd find in the wild.
Thanks for sharing. Your approach is one of many techniques to help chickens in the winter. Glad to hear it's working for you. But I'm not sure if you actually watched the video - Sweeter Heaters don't actually heat the entire henhouse, unless the coop is very small (and even then, not to a high level of heat). They just heat the space underneath them. This is why they work great over roosting bars. Regardless, this video is also about giving chickens a GREAT quality of life during winter (thriving), not just getting them through the cold (surviving), and heating the coop definitely helps with that - yes, even heating the whole coop (or rather, ESPECIALLY heating the whole coop!). I just moved my chickens into a new coop that is fully heated (and also air-conditioned in the summer), and my chickens have never had it better and never been so active during the winter. They are truly thriving! They forage, forage, forage in their large, protected run, come into the the coop to warm up, then forage, forage, forage... I've yet to see one even look cold. You'd think it was spring - it's wonderful! I disagree with you on your assertion that wild chickens stay warm in the cold winters by finding cubbies. That flies in the face of all the research on wild chickens I've seen (and I'm pretty well-versed in this). Wild chickens don't actually survive cold winters at all. This is why you only find feral flocks in areas with milder temperatures, such as Hawaii, parts of Florida, Georgia, etc., but not in places with biting cold or snow that sticks. You'd never find a wild chicken in Idaho, where I'm at, for example, during the winter - they'd be dead within a few days, if not the very first night. So if mimicking nature is one of your goals, then you'll definitely want to heat your coop - that's what chickens get in the wild, warm winters. Nature knows best!
I've had chickens for 3 years now and had somewhat believed what everyone says that they are "fine" in the cold. Like you, my own observations tell a very different story. It never felt right to me and I've always worried when it gets really cold. Thank you for helping me trust and honor my own experience over "experts" on the internet. Sweeter heaters on the way now. I can just imagine how much happier the flock will be all snug and warm on their perches. If we bring beings into our care, we owe it to them to prevent suffering and give them what they need to thrive.
That’s what I’ve come to think as well. I felt terrible seeing their injuries sustained by listening to what others said I should do. I sleep better knowing there’s a some heat in their coops when it’s -20 at night.
Thanks for sharing this! I think there are a lot of us out there who just know in our guts that so much of the conventional advice isn't right. It doesn't match up with what our chickens are telling us. And when you start looking into the scientific research that's been done on chickens, the backyard advice doesn't match up with that either. So glad you're getting a Sweeter Heater for your girls. They will love it!
Right there with you. :)
We always keep our winter coop at 40° because I just can't imagine allowing them to sit out there in a feather sweater!!
After seeing that happy girl on your lap, it’s hard to deny that they don’t appreciate some warmth.
I am coming around on this issue too. I am told they don't need heat and they are good to about 0 degrees. But I can see they are cold, and when the low's get into the teens their combs start freezing. I don't see the effects until a couple of days - they get black spots on their combs a few days after a cold snap. That cannot be pleasant to endure. And the weather does not just gradually turn colder during the winter, its up and down drastically all the time! So they can never quite adjust to the extreme cold. Plus you add in the fact that you have some older birds, I'm sure that has an effect on their ability to cope as well. 1-2 year old birds probably do better than 3-4 year old birds. To me, all those issue add up to the fact that they need some heat.
I had a similar experience as you. I started out assuming the consensus was right (because why wouldn't they be?) and that my chickens would be happy in my winter weather, which is much warmer than many places where people are keeping chickens. My chickens' behavior told me something else.
Since making this video a couple years ago, I've done a lot of research into the scientific literature on chickens in the cold, which all agrees that chickens will warm their environment if given a choice (by pressing a lever, for example) and that they're happiest and healthiest in non-winter temps. I'll be sharing this info in future videos, although not this year.
You're also very right about older hens needing the heat more. I have a mostly geriatric flock now, and if not for their heated coop, there are a few I would have culled out of kindness before winter hit. (Not quite true - Let's be real, they would have actually become house chickens, but if that wasn't an option, I would have culled.)
Glad you're coming around. Best of luck to you and your flock! 💕
Bri
Frostbite will kill them faster then you think.....
@@thefeatherbrainI would love to see this study.
I put a heater on one roosting bars and let them choose and they chose the warm one, so now I heat them both and the run because NC has been cold this year and my birds started molting in Dec. I have one naked right, still. She is the last one. ❤
Ex-researcher here. Love all your videos, please keep showing us your feathered lovelies! (Gosh I can't believe that there are people who believe that frostbite for any creature is ok...! ). Btw would you consider doing a video showing all the various hen and rooster behaviour/calls? I find that topic to be endlessly fascinating!
I hear you! I'm hoping sometime in our lifetime people look back at the way so many chickens are raised now and say, "How barbaric!" I've actually been considering doing a series of short videos called "Fowl language" that's all about chicken communications - both vocal and body language... Not sure when I'll actually do it, but it's an idea I've been playing with for some time. Glad to know you are interested in behavior/calls too - that's my favorite topic!
I would love a video on bird communication as well!!
This works be very interesting!
We have a Speckled Sussex rooster that keeps tge flock in a tense state all the time. The hens definitely respond to his calls.
Perfect soundtrack.
Thank you sooooooooo much for this video…I live in Northern Michigan and it’s been sooooo cold and we now heat their coop.
My chickens were shivering , not anymore! Never agreed with the “not having heat in their coop”😮
Thanks for sharing your experience! 💕💕💕
I have a product similar for my cockatiels and my chickens. I live in TN and everyone says not to use heat because they don’t need it. I disagree!! Last year we had lows of -5 and many lost their birds. My chickens would otherwise be in the spare bedroom so the radiant heater is wonderful alternative for us. 😂 Love your videos!😊
I also live in TN, central area and last year, being our first winter with them, was stressful for all. Wrapping the run with plastic helped with the wind chill but wished we would have had the heaters. Though the heat lamps helped we felt it a little intense. Infrared use this year has made them much happier especially as they perch and keeps the coop dryer.
@@wayne2732try using the ceramic bulbs for reptiles.
I lost my favorite 5 mo. old rooster, Buster, to the cold recently. At least I think that was the cause. He didn't seem happy outside, but I didn't see it coming :( I did go get a heat lamp with the protective grating after he died, but will check out the Sweeter Heaters. Even with just the one lamp, they all seem happier outside during the day. And I want to keep my 8 yr. old Buff (Buttercup) happy and thriving as long as possible! You put a lot of effort into this video - thank you!
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss, Skye. Poor buster! Chickens can be so good at hiding discomfort - I often don't know I have a problem until it's too late. At least your heater should prevent any further losses to cold. Sending hugs your way.
Bri
We lost our 3 year old...my girls are lost without him..❤❤
I always feed my chickens more in the winter as they burn more calories trying to keep warm. I also use hot tap water to warm their existing water source in the freezing cold mornings so they aren't drinking freezing water. Wood shavings are good for bedding warmth too.
Hot water freezes faster than cold water...
Oh my goodness! Who wouldn’t heat their coop on the off chance that the electricity might go out? Do they also not heat their home so that THEY will be acclimated to the cold when the electricity goes out?? Poor chickens! I totally agree with Pearly! I am shocked that people elect not to provide basic care for the animals in their charge. I have two chicken coops. BOTH are heated and it is VERY clear that the chickens appreciate the warmth. Thank you for your chicken videos. I love them!
I like the way you think, Sam! I wish more people viewed heat as basic care...
I love your chicken videos. I’m from Michigan and I had most of my chickens molted in December and January . I used the cozy coop heater but next winter I’m trying the Sweeter heater. It gives me peace of mind to know my chickens aren’t suffering out there. I also enjoyed your videos on sand in the coop/run. It helped me pick the right sand out and save lots of money on bedding. Thanks for all the great information ! :)
We have been hit hard this winter & we just lost our Rooster due to frostbite,2 of our hens are currently recovering in the garage..I just order the large heater & could care less what the "experts" say...I'm not loosing anymore due to the cold..thanks so much..
Good for you! You are the expert on your flock.
When people ask me why? They will survive without heat, I always say, “ I don’t want my pets to just survive, I want them to thrive. It is mean that they will watch their birds struggle and freeze because they make it through alive? So barely surviving is ok with them.
I have 5 chickens and a small radiant panel. We had a cold snap so i decided to turn it on. I checked them right before and they were regularly roosted, and checked them 15 minutes later and they were all crammed closer to the heat source 😅. Mine loved it. We have some negative temps heading our way and our first winter so hoping the cozy coop panel is sufficient in staving off frost bite.
Thank you so much for this! This is my first year as a chicken keeper and I want to do what’s best for my chickens. We had -40 F days last winter, so for sure I’m getting the Sweeter Heater!!
I have a sweeter heater in my coop too. We rarely get snow in the south but we just had a week of temps in the single digits, not counting the wind chill and even though it does not put out a lot of heat, it did make a difference in the overall temp in the coop. We are back to normal winter temps now so I have unplugged it as they don’t need it. However, when it was 4* to negative 4* even during the day, I knew I had to do something. We all slept better at night. My girls don’t have combs or large waddles (EE’s &Americaunas) so I didn’t worry about frost bite but they def spent more time during the day in the coop. They didn’t seem to have any problem at all with the new coop addition. I guess they were just too cold to care.
Your videos about chickens in the cold are fantastic. I wish they would go viral in the chicken world!
I just recently heard of someone whose whole flock died by freezing to death overnight. If I lived in a cold climate, I would definitely use these heaters. I just can't get over the cruelty of letting chickens freeze to death. We used the radiant heaters for our ducklings and our easter egger chicks and they loved them! I loved how much safer they are than the dreaded red bulb lights. I even threw in a low-wattage seed starting mat, covered with a cloth, for them to sit on, which they also loved!
Thanks for sharing this, Cheryl. The seed mat is a great idea! I'm with you on the cruelty aspect - I don't understand it either.
@@thefeatherbrain Thank you for all the great information. I have learned so much watching your videos and reading your blog. I appreciate you and so do my girls🐔❣
Thank you for all of your great information. I’m a newbie and have learned so much from you. Glad you’re back!
Preach girl... I've been arguing this point for years.
Its amazing to see a video emphasising radiant heaters! I live in Canada and am planning a coop and it can get very cold (-22 F, or colder), I can't imagine not heating. I was thinking about a wall application of radiant tile heating (what people have under their bathroom floor) but that would have some challenges. A seperate kind of heater would be great. So grateful for this video!
I don't blame her I love the snow but that weather and those temperatures for snow to fall are plain miserable! 😅
So my thought has always been "if im cold then they're cold too." So i heat my coop and dont care about what anybody has to say. I live in upstate ny and our winters go from 20 degrees to -20 degrees
Love your free-thinking. Totally agree. :)
We have opposite weather where I am down south, however, the heat can be life threatening to chickens so many precautions must be taken. I keep a large fan inside the coop, ice packs in the water, spray the run with water and of course a covered run.
This is my second winter and I have added the infrared heaters and they are much happier
If a person had a south facing slope, they could build their coop nestled into the hill plus have part or all of the front glass or clear plastic for solar gain. Also burying a pipe 6-8 feet in the ground to let the consistent 58 degree temp come to the surface would regulate the temp year round. It wouldn't be as snug as the sweeter heaters, but it would be better than bare tin coop with nothing...if people don't want to run electricity to their coop. The usual about predator proofing applies. The materials could be scavenged to save money. I'm a nerd about anything that gives an obscene gesture to the power company. :)
Pearly is such a beautiful bird! What a star!! I just ordered two Sweeter Heaters for my new chicken adventures coming in Spring! THANK YOU!
Perly knows he's beautiful too. That's why I let him get away with anything. :) So glad you're getting Sweeter Heaters! Your chickens will thank you!
Bri
Ooomigosh, Perly. 😂 What a funny chicken! Love your videos, Bri!! Thank you for this information... we definitely have some chilly fluffy buns right now. I've got a chicken I need to send you a clip of. She makes a call I can only describe as, "MOOOOM!! MOOOOOOOOM!!!!!" Clearly, she's a momma's girl, and a bit needy. Been trying to cut the cord, so to speak, but I just want to make sure she's not saying something else entirely, like, "DAD!! DAAAAAAD!!!"
Lol! That sounds hilarious - would love to see her calling for you. :)
Do the sweeter heaters that attach to the wall vertically instead of hang overhead work the same way and are they just as affective in keeping the chickens warm.???
Thanks for this! I agree that just because they can survive (mostly) very cold temps does not mean they are thriving and comfortable. Question: We are down in CO, and have a similar climate to yours; at what temp do you turn on your sweeter heaters ?
I don't have a perfect answer for when YOU should turn the heater on, but I'll tell you how I think about it.
The thermoneutral zone of chickens is 60-75 degrees (this is the temperature range where chickens are most comfortable), so I turn the heater on when it's in the 50s. The studies on the thermoneutral range were done on red junglefowl and layer Rhode Island Red chickens, so it's possible the range for other ("cold hardy") backyard birds is lower. (But I have chickens who appear uncomfortable in the 50s.)
If you feel like the 50s are too high (i.e., your chickens aren't cold), then watch how your chickens behave. When they appear to be cold, turn the heater on. I have a video that talks about when chickens show signs of cold - you'll find it at 7 minutes into this video - th-cam.com/video/hTYVXDpmeh4/w-d-xo.html
At the bare minimum, turn the heater on at 35 degrees. Chickens are subject to frostbite at 32 degrees, so I always recommend having a heater on before they reach that temperature.
Best,
Bri
Great info (and timely!) THANK YOU
Your right. There is nothing wrong with this. It’s loving and considerate. Hanks.
What temperature about would you start using these heaters in the winter? Here In Oregon our coldest months are January and February and the temps are usually 30s and 40s then I believe.
It completely depends on how my birds are acting. At a minimum, I recommend plugging them in whenever the temperature approaches freezing (to avoid frostbite). I usually end up plugging them in when it's warmer, though - for me, in October - when temperatures are in the 40s-50s during the day simply because I have a lot of molting chickens then who shiver like crazy and look miserable without them.
@@thefeatherbrain Thank you! I really appreciate it as I was curious and couldn't find info on the temps lol 😅
We just finished building our first coop. We insulated all 4 walls and the roof. Would it still be necessary to put a heater in? I just see a lot of coops with no insulation.
we do not have a lot of days that stay under freezing but if it going to stay below 40 degrees for more than 24 hour i place oil filled heaters and set it where the coop stays at 50 - 70 degrees with the chicken door open 50 degrees and locked at night at 70 degrees and move all the chickens in to the heated coop
That sounds wonderful, Bob. Maybe I should look into doing that. Have you ever had any problems with that type of heater?
Thank You for this video. This year I have had 1 of my girls die and knew this was not normal. I know what to do for egg bound but I don't care if they don't lay in the winter. I look for that too.
This is super helpful! Any tips on setting up a solar powered solution for this?
I see this video is 1 yr old. Is sweeter heater safe to use on an extension cord?
Thank you for all your videos ❤I have questions, in winter time if it’s more warm inside the coop…when they go outside they have contrasted weather and they are not use to it, and then they have a reaction from cold no? ❤
I've found that mine do better in the cold outside when they are able to warm up inside under the Sweeter Heaters when they need to. Before my coops had sweater heaters, the chickens spent a lot more time puffed up inside the coop, not wanting to go out. Now, they spend more time being active outside during the day. The Sweeter Heaters are especially nice at night when temperatures drop A LOT. You could always just run your Sweeter Heaters at night - that's always an option.
Enjoyed your video, I am fairly new to raising chickens, this is my 3 year. I had my first broody moma chicken who hatched out 10 chicks We put moms and baby chicks in brooder with heat lamp. It is November17 and the chicks are10 days old, I know they will out grow our brooder they are in now so I'm trying to figure out something for moma hen and baby chicks with winter coming on. I live in Kentucky and the weather is all over the place, 60 in the day and 30s at night. Any ideas for my new chicks and Moms hen would be appreciated thanks for all your advice😊
Pearly the rooster is on a mission to help his mom improve the living standards of chickens everywhere.
I wish the piece was not so high!!
The cost to run those all winter long is probably prohibitive for most back yard keepers.
I actually have that number! I have a separate power hook-up on my property for a potential future RV - that hook-up comes with its own power bill. Right now, the only thing that's powered by that hookup is 2 large sweeter heaters (you can see them in my largest coop in the video). Those 2 large Sweeter Heaters are on 24/7 in the winter months and the electric bill for that is $25/month. Well worth it for chickens' health and comfort! Of course, this will vary by state - for example, I live in Southern Idaho now and power is considerably more expensive than when I lived in Southwest Montana, but still, $25/month for two large heaters 24/7 is NOT prohibitively expensive for most people. If that's too much for you, then just plug them in at night when your chickens need them most! And if you only need one heater, cheaper still!
And actually, now that I've just reviewed my electric bills for that hook-up, even in the warmer months, when the Sweeter Heaters aren't plugged in (and so NOTHING is drawing power), my power bill is still $5, just for the existence of the hook-up. So that means the 2 large sweeter heaters are only costing me about $20/month, not $25.
That's good information to have. Perhaps mention it in a future video.
Is that rooster a Rhode Island Red?? (7:14 and 11:00)
Yes. Rufio the Rhode Island Red - he's a sweetheart!
What would be alternatives to providing heat?
Here in Montana where I live the wind and even below freezing cold temps can knock out power for sometimes hours to days even a week on end
I mean if it came to that I’d make sure the coop is winterized before winter hit and provide bedding to keep warm
But just curious
What is the alternative to heating the coop?
I need to get better about leaving comments before the video is over. I'll incorporate one of these into the coop we're getting ready for our chicks next month.
Got me some sweeter heaters. Good ad lol
Your chickens will LOVE them!
I got a large Sweeter heater after watching this.
Your chickens will thank you! :)
Around what temperature do you usually starts the sweater heater ?
I've heated my Coop from the first winter I have had Chickens...going on 6 years. I keep the Coop around 45° F. We live far north next to Canada
Our local group's member had chickens die because they put a generator too close to the coop for the heater. That was quite tragic.
Shivering also requires more food and that still isn't warm enough.
I know this video is older, but I have to ask. Do your chickens try to roost on top of the heater? I feel like mine would try to get on top of the heater if hung above the roost.
Mine haven't. Well, there was one attempt by a smaller hen at first. Because of the way they are hung, they don't stay still enough if they're bumped or jumped on to allow roosting. I haven't had any issues with it. Plus, they pretty quickly figured out that under the heater was much nicer than trying to be on top of it. If you're really concerned about them trying to get up there, you might want to cover the chains they hang from with something like pex tubing or something to keep them from getting their toes stuck in the links of the chains. I'd think that would be the biggest danger.
Very cool
Vivaldi ❤
My favorite composer :)
Mine won’t even walk on the snow! They go from the run into the garage and back, all day.
Vilvaldi!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
John
wick 3!
Also, certain breeds are not great for cold climates like Frizzles, etc. Chickens are jungle fowl and we don't see snow in the jungle!
🥶👍👍👍
Some people can’t get heat to the coop,,
Im going to heat my coop. Why? Well they have combs. Despite being cold hardy my chickens have frost bite on the combs. My coop is the driest darn coop around.... so yeah im heating
I wish I had electric to my coop, but I dont.
I hear you - I know I'm lucky this has worked out for me. It sounds like you want the best for your birds. We can all only do what we're capable of doing with our current set ups. Thanks for commenting!
Bri
Why do people think they have to heat an entire henhouse to keep their hens warm? HALVE that coop behind a shower curtain or cardboard wall in front of the ROOST where they sleep so they can use their own body heat to heat that smaller space. When they chill, they can duck behind it for a warm up and then come out again to the run. In fact, there should be 'warm up stations' all through the run in winter, where chickens can keep warm apart for DOMINANT hens in their own 'doghouse' warm up station. Nobody has to heat anything. Just give them more cubbies, just like they'd find in the wild.
Thanks for sharing. Your approach is one of many techniques to help chickens in the winter. Glad to hear it's working for you.
But I'm not sure if you actually watched the video - Sweeter Heaters don't actually heat the entire henhouse, unless the coop is very small (and even then, not to a high level of heat). They just heat the space underneath them. This is why they work great over roosting bars.
Regardless, this video is also about giving chickens a GREAT quality of life during winter (thriving), not just getting them through the cold (surviving), and heating the coop definitely helps with that - yes, even heating the whole coop (or rather, ESPECIALLY heating the whole coop!). I just moved my chickens into a new coop that is fully heated (and also air-conditioned in the summer), and my chickens have never had it better and never been so active during the winter. They are truly thriving! They forage, forage, forage in their large, protected run, come into the the coop to warm up, then forage, forage, forage... I've yet to see one even look cold. You'd think it was spring - it's wonderful!
I disagree with you on your assertion that wild chickens stay warm in the cold winters by finding cubbies. That flies in the face of all the research on wild chickens I've seen (and I'm pretty well-versed in this). Wild chickens don't actually survive cold winters at all. This is why you only find feral flocks in areas with milder temperatures, such as Hawaii, parts of Florida, Georgia, etc., but not in places with biting cold or snow that sticks. You'd never find a wild chicken in Idaho, where I'm at, for example, during the winter - they'd be dead within a few days, if not the very first night. So if mimicking nature is one of your goals, then you'll definitely want to heat your coop - that's what chickens get in the wild, warm winters. Nature knows best!
Trim the combs and waddles, and then frostbite doesn't become an issue.
Trimming the comb and wattles is INCREDIBLY painful for chickens - the science is clear on this! This isn't an acceptable way to prevent frostbite.
What is with that obnoxious background noise?
Looks stupid to me.