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Heating a chicken coop in winter without electricity: methods and tips. How to heat a chicken coop in winter - an overview of options Do-it-yourself oven in a chicken coop

If you are the owner of a subsidiary farm, then in winter you have probably at least once encountered a problem, which is expressed in the fact that the chickens have stopped laying eggs. This indicates that the bird is experiencing discomfort caused by the cold.

Solution

You can improve the living conditions of chickens by deciding how to heat the chicken coop in winter. This can be done by maintaining a certain air temperature. However, it is also important to do this by laying bedding on the floor, insulating the ceiling and walls, and installing artificial heating.

The following materials can be used for bedding:

  • sawdust;
  • peat;
  • chopped straw;
  • corn cobs.

Slaked lime is poured onto the dry and cleaned base, which will require 1 kg per square meter. Afterwards, bedding material is laid, the layer of which can vary from 5 to 10 cm. As soon as you notice that the topping has become compacted, you need to add fresh material. This natural heating is effective, but requires regular loosening.

A complex approach

To prevent heat from escaping, it is necessary to insulate the ceiling and walls. Mineral wool and roofing felt are used as thermal insulation materials, which are laid on the ceiling. Polystyrene foam and mineral wool can be used for walls, but for window and door openings, plastic film, fabric materials and even a blanket are suitable. The construction of a chicken coop inside necessarily involves heating in the winter, only in this case can you be sure that the birds will lay eggs all year round. To do this, you can use heating radiators, potbelly stoves, infrared lamps and brick structures.

Many chicken coop owners wonder whether there is a need to insulate the ceiling and walls when there is a heating system. The experts answer unequivocally: “Yes!” Natural insulation can solve two important problems, which are preventing drafts and creating barriers to precipitation.

Using infrared lamps

When the insulation of the chicken coop has been completed, you can take care of the availability of additional equipment. It can be infrared lamps. They are a simplified heating option. This method is very common today compared to others. This is due to the fact that the lamp for heating a chicken coop has a high efficiency and efficiency. The advantages also include:

  • uniform distribution of thermal energy throughout the room;
  • long operational period;
  • the ability to create optimal humidity;
  • absence of diseases in poultry.

It is very easy to install such devices, as well as replace them if necessary. A lamp for heating a chicken coop consumes a minimal amount of oxygen and also reduces the cost of purchasing feed, because the growing of broiler chickens is accelerated. If you decide to choose such an infrared device, then it is best to pay attention to the manufacturers Philips and Osram. The last of the listed manufacturers is located in Germany and produces infrared lamps that have transparent capsule bulbs with mirror elements. Such devices can be installed at a distance of 1 m or less from the consumer. This will completely eliminate overheating.

Choosing a company

If you are thinking about the best way to heat your chicken coop in winter, you may prefer Philips incandescent lamps, which can be red or transparent. The first ones are the most popular; they have a capsule shape and are made of tempered glass. In infrared lamps of this type, the brightness of the light flux can be adjusted. On the market you can find products of infrared heaters from Russian specialists, including infrared mirror lamps that have a transparent or red bulb. The main advantage of such devices is their long service life, which reaches 5000 hours.

Why you should choose infrared heaters

The construction of a chicken coop inside certainly involves the installation of heating devices. They can be infrared. They are very convenient to use and heat the surrounding objects rather than the air. This ensures heat retention inside the room. According to the laws of physics, warm air rises. Even if every crack is well sealed, warm air will find a loophole and leak out. Among other things, ventilation holes are usually made in the ceiling, where the air will go. While the surrounding objects, to which the heater will give off heat, will not go anywhere. Afterwards they will begin to give off heat to the space.

Infrared heaters are also convenient because they can be fixed to the ceiling, where birds cannot reach and get burned. In order to maintain the temperature in the chicken coop at a certain level in winter, you should purchase a heater whose power does not exceed 500 W. This is true for small spaces. You can additionally purchase a thermostat, which can be used to set the optimal temperature; it varies within +12 °C. As soon as the air cools down, the heater will turn on automatically. In addition to the above brands, BiLux devices have proven themselves well.

Additional features of infrared lamps

The above-mentioned temperature in the chicken coop in winter can be maintained using infrared lamps, which are quite popular today, for certain reasons. They do not burn air and are able to maintain dryness and the necessary humidity. Lamps can be used not only for heating, but also for lighting. According to farmers, such devices have a high efficiency and compact size. They can be used to produce a soft red color that has a calming effect on the bird and promotes productivity and better growth.

From the wide assortment presented in stores, we can highlight lamps that are durable, reliable and affordable. One similar lamp, whose power is 250 W, will heat and illuminate a room of 12 m2.

Characteristics of infrared BR125 IR

They are best suited for a chicken coop if it is necessary to heat a room for such a purpose. The model mentioned in the subtitle will cost the consumer 429 rubles. It is a heating element that can work in difficult conditions such as farms where birds and animals are kept. The design is strengthened through the use of tempered glass. The dimensions are compact, the base is universal and allows the lamp to be used with any suitable equipment. Such a device provides heat flow that does not cause damage to the skin, warms animals and people, and even food. These benefits attract farmers, builders and chefs. If you are also thinking about how to heat a chicken coop in winter, then, of course, it is best to choose infrared heating, which does not have a negative impact on the health of humans and animals. Among other things, it helps improve the bird’s appetite and rapid growth, and increases the body’s resistance to infections.

Calculation of the power of heating equipment for a chicken coop

A winter chicken coop for 20 chickens should have dimensions of 4x4 m, while the enclosure for walking will be limited to the following dimensions: 2x7 m. Thus, the heated area will be 16 m2. As mentioned above, for 12 m2 you need 250 W, but for 16 m2 330 W will be enough.

Heating without electricity

Quite often, modern poultry keepers wonder how to heat a chicken coop in winter. If electricity is not supplied to a country house, then you may prefer alternative methods, for example, solid fuel stoves that are heated with wood. Such devices heat up quite quickly and are able to retain heat for a long time. Heating of this type will be cheaper compared to gas equipment, the latter of which is relevant only when the farm has grown to the size of a poultry farm.

If you want to use wood for heating, you should think about fire safety. All parts of the potbelly stove that become very hot must be insulated to prevent burns to the bird. Among other things, the room must be equipped with a good ventilation system and a separate chimney. Before the onset of cold weather, you should stock up on coal and firewood. During the process of heating the stove, as well as during fuel combustion, the structure must be monitored, otherwise you may encounter a fire. This threat becomes real when the room is made of wood and the floor is covered with straw. In such rooms, the potbelly stove can be removed to a special place where there is a concrete base and the stove is located away from the walls. If you are faced with the task of how to heat a chicken coop in winter, then you can choose a potbelly stove, which will not only provide a normal temperature, but also save resources.

Water heating

When infrared lamps are not suitable for a chicken coop because there is no electricity supplied to it, you may prefer water heating. This is relevant if heating in a residential building is carried out using a water heating boiler. At the same time, when building a chicken coop, it is best to adjoin it to a residential building. It is necessary to install pipes in the poultry house, which should be separated from the heating circuit of the house. Having skills and certain experience will help you set up such heating. As practice shows, this method is the cheapest and most practical.

Conclusion

Now you know how to heat a chicken coop in winter without electricity. However, if this option is unacceptable for you, then it is better to prefer infrared devices that will heat not air, but objects, the latter of which, after heating, will begin to give off heat.

The owner of the bird must do everything to help it survive the cold ordeal. Provide good nutrition, install additional lighting, insulate the chicken coop and protect the birds from drafts.

How can you heat your chicken coop so that the chicks don’t feel cold, their productivity continues to be high, and the homemade device doesn’t require large financial costs? We will tell you how to organize heating of a chicken coop in winter quickly, reliably, and most importantly - economically.

Why should the chicken coop be warm?

In winter and in the off-season, chickens can walk for a long time in the snow, a cold wind, or even a draft - all this leads to the bird freezing. The legs especially freeze; they are not covered with feathers. Hypothermia often causes respiratory diseases and decreased egg production, so the chicken coop should be warm all year round. The temperature in the barn should not fall below 7C. This is especially important for areas with a cold climate; here you need to think about how to heat the chicken coop.

If you live in an area with cold winters, it is better to take care of heaters before the cold weather sets in. If the winters are not frosty, then deep litter will be enough. But in any case, the barn needs to be insulated.

The number of eggs depends 40% on whether the chicken is kept in a warm room or in a cold one. Representatives of meat breeds in a cold barn gain less weight per day than their relatives kept in a warm barn.

In the cold, chickens eat more, they have to be given more feed, but it is less digestible and the bird gets fat, its activity decreases. If your plans are to raise young animals, then without additional heating the hen will freeze, even if the winter is warm.

How to heat a chicken coop in winter? It turns out there are two ways to solve the problem.

Natural heating

Adequate nutrition helps strengthen the immune system; if the bird receives all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements with food, its body itself will be able to maintain its temperature.

Before the onset of cold weather, the chicken coop needs to be insulated and the cracks in the ceiling and walls must be sealed. Chickens are afraid of drafts, but ventilation will benefit them. During construction, foam or glass wool is placed inside the walls; they hold the temperature well. The cracks in windows or doors are sealed with rags, and the ceiling is insulated with roofing felt.

We repeat, such heating is suitable for a poultry house if you live in a temperate climate zone.

The room must have good ventilation, otherwise moisture and ammonia will cause paw disease or colds. Lay the bedding on the floor in a layer of 10 centimeters. This could be straw, peat, sawdust. Used litter is not thrown away - it is excellent compost.

How to lay bedding correctly? A dry, clean floor is sprinkled with slaked lime, then 10 centimeters of bedding is laid. Over time, it will get dirty and become saturated with waste, which means dry material is added on top. The litter must dry out, so it needs to be turned once every two to three weeks. Composting is accompanied by the release of heat; the air can heat up to 12C.

If the frost is more than -10C, you will not be able to do without artificial heating.

Artificial heating of the chicken coop

What heating devices can warm chickens? If you are going to do the insulation yourself, then let's look at the simplest methods. You can install an electric or infrared heater, heat the air with a stove or gas, or an infrared lamp.

  • The use of electric heaters gives good results. But those who choose to heat their poultry house with electric appliances will receive considerable electricity bills. Oil radiators, heaters and other devices are installed in a safe place so that the bird does not get burned. It is better to buy devices with automation, then the desired temperature will be maintained automatically.
  • The chicken coop can be heated with a gas boiler. But this is only advisable if the flock is large and the chicken coop has good ventilation. A gas boiler is not cheap, and there is no point in buying it for two dozen chickens, but for a large farm, this choice will be the best solution. Such a device should not be left unattended for a long time; only specially trained personnel should work with it.
  • Stove heating, even if the stove is an ordinary “potbelly stove,” is beneficial. The only problem is that the stove will quickly become covered with a coating of rust.

The stove must be constantly monitored, otherwise a fire may occur. It cannot be said that such heating is profitable and economical; sometimes old structures become unusable due to use. For example, no matter how old the stove is, its heating parts must be insulated. Most often, chicken coops are wooden, and compliance with fire safety rules is the main condition for preserving the life and health of chickens. In addition, you need to stock up on coal and firewood long before the onset of cold weather. The dimensions of the stoves do not allow them to be installed in small chicken coops; moreover, if there is no chimney in the room, stove heating cannot be used.

  • Infrared heaters are convenient for heating a chicken coop; they have been used for many years to heat cottages, sheds, greenhouses and other small premises. As a rule, they are attached to the ceiling, which guarantees the safety of the pestles; they heat not all the air in the room, but individual objects. Attaching them is not difficult; installation, step by step, is described in the instructions. Typically, devices with a power of 500 W are recommended for these purposes; the thermostat sets the temperature to 12C.
  • Infrared lamps for heating a chicken coop in winter are the most profitable solution. For the safety of chickens, they are suspended from the ceiling at a height of about 1 meter from the floor. For many people, such a lamp burns all winter from morning to evening, because in the cold season the daylight hours are quite short.

Experienced poultry farmers recommend installing infrared lamps not only for heating, but also for illuminating the chicken coop; in addition, they reduce humidity. It has been proven that IR lamps help strengthen the defenses of the body of parrots, since food is absorbed many times better by them. Chickens grow and lay eggs well under the lamps.

In addition to the above devices, you can install a solar collector, air-convection or diesel oven. If the house is heated by a water heating boiler, and the poultry room is adjacent to the house, then water heating is the cheapest and most practical method.

Information for beginners!

  • Don't forget about safety. Heating elements, wires, hoses and gas heaters need to be covered with mesh or grilles; you can make such barrier shields yourself.
  • You must understand that no matter what device you install, if there are holes in the ceiling and walls through which cold wind blows, no device will help you warm the air. Therefore, first insulate the chicken coop with your own hands, and only then install heating devices in it.

Which heating method you choose is up to you. The most important thing that you should be guided by is the convenience, practicality and safety of the design, which will help your pets survive the cold winter. But, if you still have very little experience in installing such devices, contact specialists, they will certainly help you solve the problem.

Owners of farmsteads are often faced with the fact that on frosty winter days, chickens stop laying eggs. This indicates that they are experiencing discomfort and the reason for this is the cold. You can improve the keeping of chickens by maintaining optimal indoor air temperature.

There are several options for insulating a chicken coop. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 types:

  • laying bedding on the floor;
  • insulation of ceilings and walls;
  • artificial heating of the chicken coop.

The first two types relate to natural heating. The following can be used as bedding material:

  • chopped straw;
  • sawdust;
  • corn cobs;
  • moss peat.

Slaked lime (1 kg / 1 m²) is poured onto the cleaned and dry base. Then the bedding material is laid in a layer of 5-10 cm. When the bedding becomes wet, fresh material should be added. This procedure is carried out until the litter layer is within 25-30 cm. This type of natural heating becomes more effective when the litter is regularly loosened using a fork.

To prevent the loss of large amounts of heat, the walls and ceiling of the chicken coop must be insulated. The following are used as thermal insulation materials:

  • for the ceiling - roofing felt or mineral wool;
  • for walls - mineral wool or polystyrene foam;
  • for windows and doors - plastic film, blankets or other fabric materials.

There is absolute confidence that chickens will lay eggs all year round when the chicken coop is heated in winter using heating devices. Suitable for the premises:

  • diesel stoves;
  • potbelly stoves or brick structures;
  • heating radiators;
  • infrared lamps.

Many people who breed laying hens wonder: is it necessary to insulate the walls and ceiling when there is a heating system? Definitely necessary. Natural insulation of the chicken coop solves two main problems:

  • prevents drafts;
  • is a barrier to precipitation.

Stove and radiator heating

There are several options for creating heating in a chicken coop. Stove heating of a room involves the use of a conventional brick stove or “potbelly stove”. To prevent chickens from getting accidentally burned, the heating elements of ovens must be covered with a protective material.

Among the disadvantages of heating using these stoves, mention should be made of:

  • the need to constantly maintain optimal temperature conditions;
  • the occurrence of rust in the potbelly stove.

Installing a diesel furnace is a rather interesting option. This equipment is different:

  • efficiency;
  • fire safety;
  • no smoke.

When purchasing a diesel stove, you should know the area of ​​the chicken coop. The power of the heating device will depend on this indicator.

Buleryan stoves are a very popular product. The main advantages of their use are:

  • operation on any type of fuel;
  • uniform heat distribution;
  • efficiency.

You can consider the option of installing an electric heater or radiator. This heating will provide the chicken coop with a constant temperature. The main requirement when installing electrical equipment is to prevent birds from touching heating elements and wires. The disadvantage of this type of heating is the high power of the devices, which often causes maximum costs for paying electricity bills.

You can reduce energy consumption by installing an infrared heater. It is equipped with a regulator with which you can change the heating intensity of the chicken coop at any time. Automatic regulators are also available that turn off the heater when a certain temperature is reached.

If one of the walls is adjacent to the house, it is possible to create heating for the chicken coop with your own hands by connecting to a common heating system. This is perhaps the most rational solution when heating an outbuilding.

Infrared lamps

A simplified option is to heat the chicken coop with an infrared lamp. This method of heating a utility room is very popular. Compared to other electric heating devices, the use of infrared lamps is characterized by maximum efficiency and high efficiency (up to 98%).

Also, the “advantages” of this type of heating include:

  • uniform distribution of thermal energy throughout the chicken coop;
  • ease of installation and replacement (if necessary);
  • long operational period;
  • minimal oxygen consumption;
  • creating optimal humidity;
  • reduction in the cost of purchasing feed (with the rapid cultivation of broiler chickens);
  • absence of diseases in birds.

Some of the best manufacturers of chicken coop heating lamps include:

  • Osram;
  • Philips.

Specialists from the German company Osram produce infrared lamps that have transparent SICCATHERM capsule flasks with mirror elements. Such lamps are installed at a distance of 0.5-1 m from the consumer. This completely eliminates overheating.

Philips incandescent lamps are available in both clear and red. The latter are in great demand. The red lamps are capsule-shaped and made of tempered glass. Philips infrared lamps allow you to adjust the brightness of the light output.

Russian specialists are also engaged in the production of infrared reflector lamps (IRLs), which have a red or transparent bulb. The main advantage of IKZ is its long service life, reaching 5 thousand hours.

Video on installing a chicken coop heating system:

Poultry often does not tolerate prolonged drops in temperature well and in most cases requires substantial housing for a safe winter. Therefore, no farmer can do without a high-quality warm and heated chicken coop. However, not all methods of heating a home for domestic chickens are effective. Therefore, in this article we decided to describe in detail the most popular of them, as well as determine their main advantages and disadvantages.

Is it possible to do without additional heating?

In most cases, additional heating is the only way to provide the most optimal conditions for keeping chickens. This issue is especially acute for regions with a cold northern climate, since in such conditions, with a lack of heat, the bird can become seriously ill or even die.


But in temperate climates and other warmer climate zones, the chicken coop does not require additional heating, since natural heating will be quite sufficient for these birds. To do this, you just need to provide the chickens with high-calorie nutrition.

Important! Extruded polystyrene should not be used as insulation for a chicken coop. This material is not capable of allowing excess steam to pass through its surface, which will lead to excessive humidity in the chicken coop.

But in order for the birds to feel comfortable, the chicken coop should be thoroughly insulated. To do this, all cracks must be carefully caulked, leaving only a small ventilation hole. In addition, walls, floors and roofs require enhanced insulation. The walls and roof are made double, with a small cavity between the inner and outer parts of the structures. It is necessary to lay insulation (foam plastic, mineral wool, etc.) in the cavity with a thickness of at least 10-15 cm. The floor is also made double. On top of the main covering it is necessary to lay an additional insulating ball with a thickness of at least 15 cm. For these purposes, peat, sawdust or straw are most suitable.


The end result is that the design of the insulated chicken coop should resemble a thermos. The heat released during the life of birds becomes the main source of creating a favorable temperature in the room, which, thanks to the insulation ball, is maintained for a long time. In this case, an insulated chicken coop allows the birds to safely withstand seasonal frosts down to -10-12 °C.

How to heat a chicken coop with electric heaters

Often, for most farmers, natural heating of the chicken coop is not enough to create comfortable wintering conditions for domestic chickens. In this case, the safest and fastest way to achieve the necessary microclimate for keeping poultry is heating the room using a variety of electrical devices. They make it possible to instantly, and most importantly, safely achieve the desired temperature. Next, we will consider the main advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of electric heaters.

Heater

An electric heater is a ventilation-type circulation heating device. The device contains a heating element (heating element) and an air circulation system. Under the influence of electric current, the heating element is heated, which is circulated with air using a powerful fan. As a result, with the help of constant circulation of heat, the room is gradually heated to the required level.


Such a system is one of the most optimal solutions for heating, as it promotes instant heating of the air. To equip the system, it is necessary to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the room, as well as build a special air duct from metal pipes or other materials. Most often, air heaters are used to heat large rooms, since the system requires complex maintenance.

Advantages of air heaters:

  • high level of efficiency;
  • rapid heating of the room;
  • uniform heating of the entire chicken coop.


Disadvantages of calorific heating:

  • high price of the heating system;
  • the need to install complex ventilation equipment;
  • during operation, the heater may emit an unpleasant odor;
  • overdrying of air during heating;
  • after turning off the heating, the room instantly cools down;
  • high noise level.

Did you know?The first model of calorific heating was designed at the beginning of the 19th century by Russian engineer Nikolai Ammosov. In 1835, the so-called “Ammos stove” was first tested to heat the Imperial Academy of Arts.

Oil heater

An oil heater is an electrical device consisting of a heating element and a special coolant - mineral oil, which are enclosed in a sealed metal housing. In appearance, an oil heater resembles a regular battery, but unlike central heating, such a radiator does not have a permanent location.


To design a heating system based on oil heaters, you only need to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the room and purchase the required number of heaters (depending on the size of the room).

Advantages of oil heaters:

  • low energy consumption;
  • high fire safety;
  • durability of heaters;
  • no noise;
  • the heater does not dry out the air and does not emit unpleasant odors;
  • The room cools down gradually.


Disadvantages of oil heaters:

  • heating large chicken coops will require several devices;
  • in case of depressurization, oil may leak out;
  • heavy weight of the heater.

Electric convector

An electric convector is a heating device that heats a room by natural convection of air between the room and the heating element. The convector consists of a metal body and heating element. During operation of the device, heated air from special air chambers rises upward, while the lower, colder air is sucked into them. As a result, natural heat circulation occurs in the room.


To design a heating system based on electric convectors, it is necessary to provide the chicken coop with an uninterrupted power supply, as well as purchase the required number of devices (depending on the size of the room).

Advantages of electric convectors:

  • low power consumption;
  • low cost;
  • ease of operation;
  • absence of noise and unpleasant odor during operation;
  • The heater does not dry out the air.


Disadvantages of electric convectors:

  • slow and uneven heating of the room;
  • instant cooling of the room after turning off the device;
  • To heat large chicken coops, several convectors will be required.

Did you know?The domestication of wild chickens occurred in Ancient China and Southeast Asia in the 6th millennium BC.

Ceramic panel

A ceramic heating panel is a device consisting of a heating element and ceramic plates, which act as an intermediate coolant. The device operates on the principle of an electric convector, but heating of the air in the room occurs due to forced convection. For these purposes, ceramic panels are equipped with powerful fans. Designing a heating system based on ceramic heaters is a fairly simple process, since its installation requires only an uninterrupted power supply, as well as the presence of the heaters themselves.


Advantages of ceramic panels:

  • quick heating of the room;
  • aesthetics of the device;
  • high fire safety of the heater;
  • long service life;
  • do not dry the air.

Disadvantages of ceramic panels:

  • high price;
  • significant energy consumption;
  • high noise level during operation.

Did you know? The first electric heater was created in the 30s of the 20th century by the French experimenter Jacques Noirot.

IR heater

The operation of infrared heaters is based on the principle of interaction of organisms with electromagnetic radiation, which occupies a spectral position between microwave radiation and red visible light, the so-called infrared radiation. An infrared heater is a fairly simple device in design. It consists of a housing, an infrared emitter and an aluminum reflector. To heat a chicken coop with such a device, you only need to connect the power supply to the structure, as well as purchase the required number of heaters.


Advantages of an infrared heater:

  • low power consumption;
  • does not dry out the air;
  • the device operates silently;
  • the device instantly creates the necessary microclimate.

Disadvantages of infrared heaters:

  • spot heating of the room;
  • fragility of the device;
  • the need for additional interior details in the room, since the heater heats objects, not air;
  • The device emits light, which can disturb the bird's sleep at night.
  • To maintain the optimal temperature, uninterrupted operation of the device is required.

Important!When purchasing infrared heaters, beware of devices with short-wave radiation, as they can cause heat stroke in birds. Pay attention to devices with medium or long wave radiation.

Is it possible to do without electrics?

An alternative to electric heaters are gas and stove heating systems that are traditional in our region. Each of them has its own advantages, disadvantages and conditions for rational use, but in any case, such heating of the room will help cope with any sudden drops in temperature.

Using a potbelly stove

An ordinary heating stove is the easiest way to heat a chicken coop, regardless of the climatic characteristics of the region. This heating system consists of a metal combustion chamber (boiler) and a chimney. During the combustion of fuel, heat is released, which heats the surrounding air through the walls of the stove.


This heating system is quite practical. It does not require additional maintenance costs, and absolutely any non-toxic material can be used as fuel. However, building heating using a potbelly stove is not so simple. In addition to the boiler and ventilation pipe, the system requires strict compliance with all fire safety standards, since the potbelly stove requires heating with an almost open flame.

Advantages of a potbelly stove:

  • cheapness;
  • low fuel costs;
  • practicality and ease of care;
  • ease of installation of the heating system.


Disadvantages of a potbelly stove:

  • low fire safety;
  • you need to add fuel yourself;
  • emits an unpleasant odor during operation.

Heating a chicken coop with gas

Gas heating is the most effective way to create the required temperature in the chicken coop. Gas heating systems can be of two types: water and convector. The water system is a chain of a boiler, heating elements and a flammable gas exhaust system. During the combustion of fuel, heat is released, which is used to heat water.


As water circulates through the system, it gives off its heat to the radiators, which directly heat the room. Convector heating is a system of point heating elements - convectors. They operate like electric convectors, but the heating element is heated by burning gas in a sealed chamber of the device.

Important!Gas heating is equipped only in the case of a farm with at least several hundred chickens. For domestic purposes, such heating is a waste of money.

Advantages of gas heating systems:

  • quick heating of the room;
  • energy efficiency;
  • high fire safety;
  • absence of unpleasant odor during fuel combustion.


Disadvantages of gas heating systems:

  • high cost of equipment;
  • the need for constant monitoring of the health of the gas supply system;
  • high cost of fuel.

Heating a chicken coop is one of the most important processes in caring for and breeding poultry. Optimal climatic conditions for chickens throughout the year are the key to their good health and high egg production. This process must be approached as carefully as possible, since this directly affects the farming value of each individual on the farm. Therefore, the choice of the optimal heating system should be made not only on the basis of personal preferences, but also according to the efficiency and feasibility of the funds spent on it.

Should be provided at any time of the year. Heating a chicken coop in winter is an important part of farming. If birds do not receive enough heat, their standard of living will decrease, leading to decreased productivity and the occurrence of disease. In our article we will talk about how to provide warmth and comfort to these heat-loving creatures.

To begin with, it’s worth talking about the fact that chicken coops located in regions where there are no harsh and frosty winters do not need. You just need to seal all the small cracks and corners. Sometimes it is worth using a small layer of insulation.

But if abnormal frosts set in for this area, you will have to urgently take care of the heat and purchase heating devices. Otherwise, there will be an acute threat to the lives of birds.

Now let's talk about standard heating of a chicken coop in regions where it is simply vital. In addition to natural insulation, by insulating the room, there is a way to install artificial heat sources:

  • Infrared heaters and an infrared lamp for heating a chicken coop.
  • Quartz lamp.
  • Stoves like portable potbelly stoves and stationary brick stoves.
  • Heaters and radiators.

Preparing the chicken coop for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, you need to take care of preparing the chicken coop for this difficult time of year.

First of all, it is necessary to carry out disinfection while it is possible to transplant the birds to another place, because with the onset of cold weather this will be quite problematic.

Stoves for chicken coops

The use of this type of heating is quite effective, but is inferior in its parameters to electronic devices.

In order to install a stove in a birdhouse, you need to perform a number of additional steps. First of all, you should take care of fire safety. Then you need to think about making sure your chickens don't get burned.

The operation of the stove must be constantly monitored; it is also worth monitoring the air temperature yourself so that it is optimal.

This technique is often used by old-school poultry farmers and people who do not have the opportunity to incur additional expenses on electrical-type devices.

If we heat the chicken coop using a stove, we should not forget about preparing firewood for the winter - and this takes time.

Safe insulation methods

The option of installing stoves, despite its cost-effectiveness, is quite expensive and can take up a lot of the farmer’s time. After all, it is necessary not only to carefully monitor the condition of the stove, but also to prepare or purchase firewood. It follows from this that the stoves are inconvenient to use.

Therefore, most often farmers prefer to warm up chicken coops using heaters powered by electricity. These can be either oil batteries or infrared devices.

It is infrared heat emitters that have received the greatest love among poultry houses. They have an optimal cost, and in addition, they do not consume a lot of electricity - you will not receive exorbitant bills for its consumption.

Such a device can not only bring warmth to a birdhouse, but also fill it with light. It turns out that the infrared lamp is quite versatile.

Another plus in favor of choosing such a heat source is that infrared heating lamps do not burn oxygen, unlike other electrical appliances.

Let's talk in more detail about infrared lamps and list the advantages of such a heating device:

  • The price is quite low. One light bulb can cost from one hundred and fifty rubles.
  • Easy to install, use and change lamps.
  • Saving. One lamp for a chicken coop has a power of 250 watts. This will be enough to heat about thirteen square meters of the chicken coop.

In addition, such a lamp does not heat the air. It transfers heat to objects that are underneath it. This suggests that there is an additional opportunity to dry the litter, which is very important for the winter season.

Lamp selection

In domestic markets you can find lamps from both Russian and foreign manufacturers. Most often, poultry farmers prefer domestic bulbs such as IKZ or IKZS.

These bulbs come in two types: red or transparent. Transparent lamps illuminate the room well and provide warmth, but red lamps provide a minimum of light, but more actively warm the area.

The shelf life of one lamp is 5,000 hours, the cost is about 200 rubles.

Imported light bulbs cost about three times more. In terms of their characteristics, they have practically no differences with domestic analogues, but they have one important distinctive feature: tempered glass is used in the manufacture of such lamps, which makes the lamp reinforced.

Infrared heater

Now let's talk about infrared heaters. They are also very popular among farmers, like the IR lamp. They are capable of heating any surface using infrared radiation.

On the shelves you can find infrared heaters for chicken coops of different capacities. If your chicken coop is not large in scale, then you can buy a simple device with a power of about 500 watts.

Many people advise choosing heaters with a thermostat. This is a very convenient feature. The device will maintain the temperature required for your chicken coop. This option will be the most energy-saving.

Heating without electricity

Is it possible to heat a chicken coop without using electrical appliances and without installing a stove? In principle it is possible. Now we will talk in detail about how to implement this.

Natural heating is widely used in wooden buildings. Warmth is provided by installing dense bedding that is not changed.

Let's tell you step by step how to do this:

  • First step. Slaked lime is poured onto the floor. For one square meter of chicken house area there is one kilogram of lime. This material is used to prevent the appearance and spread of ticks and fleas.
  • Second step. Make a layer of fine hay. You can use peat moss or sawdust. The density of such a layer is eight centimeters.
  • Third step. As the litter is trampled down, it is necessary to add new layers. There is no need to remove litter. Old litter can be loosened using a rake.

Since compost formation processes will begin in such litter, heat will begin to be released. This heat is enough to provide the birds with the warmth they need.

However, the method is not suitable for northern regions with extreme winters. In spring, such litter can be removed and used as fertilizer when planting plants in the garden.

Required temperature

Now that we have learned the basics and heating of a chicken coop in winter, it is worth talking about what temperature will be optimal for chickens in the winter season. The bird should not freeze, it should be comfortable. Meanwhile, it is worth protecting the chickens from overheating and the air from excessive drying.

Farmers' opinions on the temperature in the bird house sometimes differ. Some are convinced that the temperature should not be higher than 18 degrees. And if you warm the air to only five degrees, then the level of productivity will decrease by twenty percent.

Birds will become more lethargic, begin to actively feed and gain weight. There will be a special vulnerability to viruses. However, the heat will not do the birds any good. At temperatures above thirty degrees, productivity decreases three times.

The second group of farmers says that the air in the poultry house should be heated to fifteen degrees, or even ten. They believe that such indicators do not in any way affect the change in productivity levels.

Heat preservation

To ensure that all efforts to heat the chicken coop are not in vain, care must be taken to maintain heat in it. To do this, it is necessary to take care of thermal insulation even at the stage of building a bird house.

The walls must have no gaps. A layer of insulation is attached to the frame, which should retain heat in winter, but also not create a greenhouse effect in summer.

The floor should be thick and not touch the ground. It is necessary to make a layer of concrete or use quality wood. Insulation is laid on the layer of material, and then the boards are stuffed. The boards must be level and without gaps, otherwise the birds may be injured.

Don't forget about good bedding. Not only does it satisfy the chickens' need to rummage through the straw, but it also naturally insulates the room during the composting process.

Lighting and heating devices must be of high quality and provide the right amount of light for birds. In this regard, it is convenient to use infrared transparent lamps, which will serve not only as a lamp, but also as additional sources of heating.

Perches and nests must be installed in places safe from drafts and hypothermia. The materials for this equipment must be of high quality so that the chickens do not get injured.

Experienced farmers know how to heat a chicken coop in winter and when to start preparing for cold weather. It’s up to you to decide which heating for the chicken coop to choose: natural or artificial. The decision should be made based on climate data in your region, the quality of the walls and insulation in the birdhouse.

The breed of chickens also matters; some types of birds are particularly fond of warmth. The poultry farmer should always be prepared to provide additional warmth to the chicken in the event of a sudden cold emergency.