Chickens have plenty of built-in insulation in the form of feathers, but all that fluff is no match for the chill of winter. When the days get short and temperatures drop, your chickens are in danger of freezing unless they have a toasty place to retreat to.
A chicken coop heater is essential for any chicken owner who lives in a place that experiences cold winters. But not all heaters are created equal: some are more energy-efficient, safe and affordable than others.
The Chilling Reality
Chickens need extra heat to survive in frigid weather. The walls of a coop may block the worst of the winds and keep snow from blowing in, but during prolonged periods of below-freezing weather, that may not be enough.
This is especially true for breeds that aren’t cold-hardy, like Frizzles and Fayoumis. These breeds just don’t have enough feather coverage to shield them from the cold.
But even cold-hardy breeds like Brahmas and Orpingtons are susceptible to frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-related medical conditions. In particular, their combs, wattles, and feet are at risk of cold damage due to their lack of feathers.
And even if your chickens are capable of withstanding subfreezing temperatures, that doesn’t mean they’re good to go.
In a cold coop, water will freeze, preventing your chickens from maintaining proper hydration. Dehydration can lead to serious medical complications, expensive vet visits, and even death.
Can’t Take the Heat?
The solution to these problems seems clear: place a heater in your chicken coop. But it’s not quite so simple.
There are plenty of heating options on the market, but not all of them are appropriate for your chicken coop, even if they claim to be.
It can be tempting to use a household space heater in your chicken coop, but it’s simply too dangerous. They get very hot and can burn any chickens that touch them, and when used in such small areas, they pose a serious fire hazard.
Oil-filled radiators designed for chicken coops are far safer than their household counterparts, but they’ve got their own drawbacks. Depending on the size of your coop, they can actually overheat the space, plus they’re costly to run due to their high wattage requirements. They’re also tricky to clean — and trust us, your chickens will make sure that constant cleanings are a necessity!
In the past, brooder lamps were one of the best solutions for chicken coop heating. But today, the reality is that they’re incredibly dangerous and unnecessary, especially with so many better options on the market.
Brooder lamps get extremely hot, and chicken coops are filled with flammable materials: feathers, straw and wood. They’ll keep your coop warm, sure, but the risk of fire is huge, making brooder lamps simply not worth it.
A Radiant Recommendation
Thankfully, there’s a solution that avoids all these problems and comes with plenty of extra benefits too: the Sweeter Heater.
Designed specifically for chicken coops, Sweeter Heaters produce radiant heat using infrared. Infrared heat is one of the safest types of heat, as it doesn’t use any fire=prone lamps or bulbs.
Infrared heat is also more energy-efficient than other types of heat, using as little as 100 watts. Compare that to a traditional heater, which could easily use 500 watts or more! Your Sweeter Heater isn’t just effective, it’s sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly.
Sweeter Heaters can be mounted on the wall or the ceiling, so they work with a variety of chicken coop layouts. And because the heat is concentrated close to the heater, your chickens will be able to regulate their own warmth: if they’re too warm, they can simply move away from the heater, and when they get cold again, they can cozy up next to it.
These Sweeter Heaters provide the perfect balance between cost, ease of use and effectiveness. If your chickens are looking chilly, give them the gift of a Sweeter Heater and see the difference a little warmth can make!
Best Sweeter Heaters
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