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Appreciation post: How avoiding heat lamps improved my chickens' cold tolerance
Maybe it's just me, but a cold coop makes chickens tougher.
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richard_perry7mo ago
I mean, skipping heat lamps just risks their health in extreme cold, idk.
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derekmoore7mo ago
My barn in Wisconsin hit -20°F last winter. I piled on extra straw and sealed drafts instead of using heat lamps. The animals stayed warm by huddling together, and I avoided any fire hazards. @richard_perry, your point about health risks is valid, but in my case, the natural approach worked better. My chickens actually laid more eggs when they weren't stressed by bright lights. Guess sometimes the old ways hold up in the cold.
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leo6037mo ago
My grandpa always said a heated coop makes for a soft bird. He raised them in Maine without any extra heat, just good dry bedding and a tight building. They do seem to adapt if you let them, and you cut out that huge fire risk. It's not for every setup, but it worked for him for decades.
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