Avoid heat lamps in the coop (winter)

Do not use heat lamps in chicken coops. Heat lamps are the leading cause of coop fires, which kill thousands of chickens and destroy hundreds of structures every year. Cold-hardy chicken breeds tolerate temperatures well below 0°F (-18°C) when housed in a dry, draft-free, well-ventilated coop with deep bedding.

Why It Works

Heat lamps operate at 250-500 watts with exposed hot bulbs in a dusty, bedding-filled environment — ideal conditions for fire. Additionally, chickens raised with supplemental heat fail to acclimate to cold, making them vulnerable if the power goes out during a storm. A properly insulated coop with good ventilation and deep litter provides adequate warmth naturally.

Tips

• If supplemental heat is truly necessary (sick birds, extreme conditions), use flat panel radiant heaters designed for animal enclosures — they have no exposed hot surfaces
• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on combs and wattles provides mild frostbite protection in extreme cold
• The biggest winter threat is moisture, not cold — focus on ventilation over heating