What temperature should be in the hen house in winter, optimal performance and heating rules
Many poultry farmers want their chickens to produce eggs consistently throughout the year, not just during the warm season. For this, laying hens need to create certain conditions, since in winter, due to a decrease in the temperature level and the amount of lighting, the egg production in birds decreases. The chicken coop should be properly prepared for the winter cold so that the birds feel comfortable. Let's figure out what the temperature should be in the hen house in winter for a stable growth of eggs.
Do chickens lay in a barn in winter without heating
In regions with a temperate climate, it is possible to do without additional electrical heating. It is necessary to get rid of all the cracks in the room, leaving only one hole for ventilation. At the same time, the walls should be double, with insulation. There should be a thick mat on the floor.
By equipping the poultry house in this way, you will be able to provide a positive temperature without electrical appliances and gas heaters, provided that there are no severe frosts in your area in winter. However, most often one cannot do without heating equipment - chickens will feel bad in winter cold and produce fewer eggs.
What frost can chickens withstand?
The temperature of keeping birds, like proper nutrition, directly affects their ability to produce eggs. The specific temperatures that chickens can withstand depend on their breed - there are relatively frost-resistant breeds that are not afraid of small climatic changes. Other breeds are sensitive to cold and they need the right conditions.
In the chicken coop
Birds should not be exposed to frostbite while in the chicken coop. Therefore, it is vital to maintain the temperature at a suitable level. The optimal indicator indoors is twenty-five degrees Celsius, the minimum below which the indicators should not fall is fifteen degrees Celsius.
On a walk
In case of slight cold, the birds should be released for a walk. Fresh air is good for keeping the hens alive. The walking yard should be securely fenced. It is desirable that the fence be high, as many chicken breeds are capable of jumping over low fences.
Walking itself must be carried out in sunny and frost-free weather, at a temperature of at least minus ten degrees Celsius.
The very stay of birds in the air should last no more than two hours, in order to avoid frostbite.
The optimal temperature in the hen house in winter for layers
In order for chickens to lay regularly and produce a stable quantity and quality of eggs, the temperature in the room should be kept at about plus twenty-five degrees Celsius. This is the optimum temperature for maintaining normal life and egg production. At the same time, temperature indicators should not fall below fifteen degrees throughout the season - this is the minimum at which the chicken is capable of producing eggs.
If the temperature drops below this level, the bird can get sick and die.
Be careful with heating the room during cold periods so as not to endanger birds.
Room heating methods
Sometimes it is sufficient to equip the house with double walls with heating and a thick bedding on the floor, carefully filling all the cracks in the structure. However, this method will only work in regions where there is no severe frost during the cold period.
For most regions of Russia, it will be necessary to install additional equipment for artificial heating in the room, otherwise the chickens will not be able to withstand the winter cold and will not regularly produce eggs. Consider the types of heating devices suitable for installation and use in a chicken coop.
Household heaters
Household electric convectors are suitable for heating the room. The principle of operation of the convector is that it draws in cold air and releases it already heated, after contact with the heating element. The main disadvantage of convectors is their high energy consumption. Such heaters are suitable as an additional source of heat, but it is problematic to use them as the main one.
The same is the case with oil coolers. An oil radiator is capable of heating the air directly around itself, while consuming a significant amount of electricity.
Gas heating
A gas heater is more suitable for space heating, but such appliances are usually expensive. The boiler is suitable for a large industrial chicken coop, but for a small private house, purchasing it will be an unnecessary waste. Plus, using the boiler can be dangerous for birds, so you need to constantly monitor it.
Stove-potbelly stove
Unlike a gas boiler, a compact potbelly stove is a suitable option for heating a private chicken coop. It does not take up much space and is able to warm the room. A potbelly stove is inexpensive, but you need to be prepared for the fact that, unlike infrared heaters, its operation will require fuel in the form of coal or firewood.
It will be necessary to install a chimney in the room and constantly monitor the operation of the device, adding fuel when required. A diesel oven is also worth considering as an alternative.
Infrared heaters
An infrared heater is the most optimal choice for heating a chicken coop. It does not need additional fuel, it is energy efficient and safe to operate. A feature of the infrared emitter is its principle of operation - under the influence of radiation, it is not the air itself that heats up, but the objects inside the room.
Air is heated directly from hard surfaces and objects. Depending on the specific model, the emitter can be installed on the floor, wall or ceiling. It is a compact and ergonomic device, simple and intuitive to use.
Infrared lamps
Another option for an infrared emitter is an infrared lamp. It is a compact device that works on the same principle, but for a smaller space.One light bulb is enough to warm a ten square meter room.
The lamp will cost less than a full infrared heater, making it a more cost effective option for a small space.
Water heating
If your house is equipped with a water boiler and the chicken coop is nearby, it is possible to run pipes into the coop. In this case, the house will receive heat directly from the boiler in the house. If there is such an opportunity, it would be best to use it, since this is the most practical heating method that requires a minimum of additional spending on heating equipment.
Food for warmth
Of course, heating alone is not enough for hens to feel good and produce stable eggs during the winter season. In addition, you should take care of the correct diet.
In winter, the frequency of feeding should be increased to three times a day. Diversify the diet of birds with vegetables, cereals, mash. Give the birds wheat and oats. Use supplements with vitamins and minerals.
