Chicken coop heater – Why do you need one?
Come winter season, every backyard chicken coop will need a chicken coop heater. A coop heater is especially necessary when you have very young chicks or older birds that cannot acclimatize to rapid drops in the ambient temperatures.
A coop heater will not only prevent your birds from freezing in minus temperatures; it will also keep their drinking water from turning to ice. Of course, you can always use chicken waterers having heated bases, but a coop heater performs both the tasks well.
The best chicken coop heater is one that won’t pose any fire hazards. After all; most coops are filled with chicken bedding and/or hay and straw so you certainly don’t want that risk. A coop heater should also prevent scalding/burning your birds should they happen to accidentally come in contact with the heater.
Let us take a look at the features to look for in chicken coop heaters.
What to look for in chicken coop heaters
Safety
The first thing to consider when buying chicken coop heaters is its safety. A coop heater should not pose any fire hazards. Chicken coops have plenty of combustible materials, including the birds themselves, so you want to ensure that the heater is completely safe.
Always choose a heater with a cover. This way; even if it gets splashed with water, it won’t explode. A cover will also prevent scalding and burning the birds and their human handlers.
The heater you select should not take time in getting heated. It should heat up quickly. If it is thermostatically controlled, it should not cool down so much that it freezes the birds. Also, a heater should not create ‘hot spots’ in the coop; rather, it should evenly dissipate heat throughout the area.
Method of operation
Chicken coop heaters can be infrared, solar, electric, thermostatically controlled, or radiant type. Each type has its pros and cons.
Solar heaters are inexpensive and eco-friendly but they may not work well on cloudy days or on the days it rains.
Infrared heaters are deemed the safest as they pose minimal fire hazard. Radiating propane based heaters can get very hot and can be dangerous to the birds.
Thermostatically controlled coop heaters can cool down suddenly causing the birds to freeze. Often, such heaters take time to heat up quickly as well.
So, no matter what type of heater you use, always monitor the temperature inside the coop..
Type and style of the heater
Chicken coop heaters can come in following styles:
Flat panel
The panel can be mounted vertically or horizontally on the coop. Most flat panel heaters do not need a lamp which can be hassle to replace.
Perch-type heaters
Chickens love to roost upon bars. Perch-type heaters allow the birds to roost without freezing their little feet. These heaters also circulate heat throughout the birds’ bodies and occupy little space. This feature makes them suitable for small coops.
Infrared lamps
Infrared lamp coop heaters do not emit light; this way, they do not disturb the birds’ sleep. They also give focused heat and can last for several thousand hours. Good quality infrared lamps come with a cover to prevent scalding or burning. You can choose from black, white, or red infrared lamps.
Heating mats or pads
Baby chicks love the chicken coop heater mats. Make sure that the mats are chew-resistant. Some mats are known to heat unevenly; so always supervise your birds when they are on these mats.
Here are some of the best chicken coop heater products available in the market.
Best Chicken Coop Heater
1. Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Coop Heater 200 Watts
This is a safe chicken coop heater that won’t burn or harm your birds. It can be installed on the wall or placed on the floor of the coop. The panel of the heater is warm to touch and ideal for freezing, negative temperatures.
It is even safe to use around hay and you don’t have to worry about fire hazard.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Offers great temperature control
- Easy to clean, extremely sturdy, and durable
- Value for money
- Easy and secure wall mounting
- No power wastage
- Does not need bulbs or lamps
- Best-selling chicken coop heater flat panel on the market.
Cons
- Some units overheated to the point of burning chickens and humans.
2. K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Pad
This chicken coop heater mat is one of the best-sellers on top retail sites, and your chickens are going to love it. It can be used indoors and outdoors and hardly consumes any power. The Thermo-Peep chicken heater mat is also chew-resistant.
Pros
- K&H chicken coop heater is suitable for vertical or horizontal mounting making it a fantastic option for small coops
- It consumes less than 30W power
- Excellent heater for young and adult birds
- Chew-resistant heater is also suitable for dog houses, rabbit hutches, or for warming young kittens.
- Sturdy
- Easy to clean
- Very comfortable for the birds
- Extremely easy to use – just plug it in
Cons
- Inconsistent – some users felt that it wasn’t warm enough for their birds while others complained that it overheated to over 100 F.
- A few units melted and warped after a few uses.
3. Farm Innovators Model HM-60P Heated Chicken Mat
Trust Farm Innovators to come up with the most well-thought of poultry products! This heated chicken mat is ideal for coops, pens, nesting areas, and other small-animal homes. It is made with sturdy ABS material and is thermostatically controlled.
Pros
- Suitable for young and old birds
- Indicator light helps you know when the mat is heating
- Suitable for small coops – has a convenient wall-mounting facility.
- Cord has a wire coil so the birds cannot peck at it.
- Sturdy, durable, and easy to clean
Cons
- Cord tends to short out after a few months
- Some birds pooped on the mat
- The 60 W heat output might not be suitable for freezing winters.
4. K&H Pet Products Chicken Coop Heater
The chicken coop mat from K&H is suitable for peeps and chickens and for indoor and outdoor use. It is designed to keep your birds warm in freezing temperatures and can be wall mounted or placed on the floor.
Pros
- Only uses 40 W
- Chew-resistant chicken coop mat
- Tested and certified heater that meets USA/CA electrical standards.
- Durable
- Comfortable for the birds and easy to install for humans
- Easy to use and clean
- Value for money
Cons
- Might not be warm enough for severe winters
- Some birds did not use it at all.
5. DGE Ceramic Heat Lamp for Turtles, Chickens, and Reptiles
DGE ceramic lamp is a black colored heater lamp ideal for small chicken coops. The compact unit comes with a metal cage, thermometer, and power cord and is easy to install.
Pros
- No light, only heat; so, your birds’ sleep isn’t affected.
- Can be placed directly on top of the breeding or nesting boxes
- Value for money
- Sturdy, gentle heat
- Portable heat source
- Safe and easy to install; especially safe for the birds due to its protective metal cage
- Long lasting heat source; bulb lasts for long time.
Cons
- Could be ineffective for larger coops
6. Coospider Ceramic Infrared Rotary Heater on Stand for Chicken Coops and Turtle/Reptile Cages
Coospider ceramic infrared chicken coop heater lamp is a black colored lamp that can last for nearly 15,000 hours, even longer.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Excellent heat output
- Value for money
- Useful for reptiles, birds, cat boxes, dog kennels, and chicken coops
Cons
- Rotation function of this infrared heater is limited
- The switch is not labelled On-Off; so you have to guess and risk getting burned on testing
- The ceramic heater gets very hot; many people and pets suffered burns upon accidental contact. Make sure you mount it or place it out of reach for the birds.
7. OMAYKEY 75 W 2-Pack Ceramic Heat Lamp for Chicken Coops and other Pets
This white-infrared lamp will not disturb your chickens’ sleep as it only emits heat and no light. It is simple and easy to install and has a long-life of nearly 15,000 hours.
Pros
- Excellent heat output – keeps coops nice and toasty
- Easy to install
- Excellent customer service; OMAYKEY are quick to respond to grievances and guarantee replacements quickly.
- Flexible and versatile, these lamps can be used for warming a variety of pet enclosures.
Cons
- No indicator light – so you do not know whether they are on or off
- The lamp takes long time to heat up.
- Some units overheated and were known to cause burns.
8. K&H Pet Products Thermo Chicken Perch
This thermostatically controlled chicken perch will keep your birds toes from freezing.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable.
- Available in two sizes.
- Comfortable for the birds; keeps them toasty warm. Thoroughly warms the birds’ bodies and especially their feet.
- Easy to clean
- Keeps birds happy throughout winter; so much so that some even lay eggs throughout the cold season.
Cons
- Inconsistent results: some users complained of frost-bitten chicken legs when the unit did not turn on despite temperature dropping below freezing.
- Manufacturer specifies not to place the unit near the bedding. This can be tough for some users to follow.
9. Sparkzoo Carbon Fiber Infrared Heat Emitter for Chicks
Sparkzoo carbon fiber infrared heater is weatherproof, energy-efficient, and anti-scalding. The best part: it heats small and large coops rapidly without affecting the humidity in the coop.
Pros
- Infrared heaters are good for your birds as they improve blood circulation by widening the blood vessels.
- Leave the bulb on for 24 hours without worrying about the birds’ sleep-time being disturbed. It also gives focused heat.
- Also suitable for cold-blooded pets like reptiles.
- Sparkzoo infrared heater can be connected to a temperature controller.
- It is weather proof, durable, and crack-free.
- Sparkzoo chicken coop heater also prevents burns and scalding thanks to its anti-scalding cover.
- Excellent customer service. Sparkzoo reps are always willing to help out.
Cons
- None
10. Rite Farm Products 250 W Chicken Coop or Brooder Lamp Red
Keep your girls warm with radiant heat using the Rite Farm Chicken Coop Brooder red lamp. It is safe and long lasting; easily lasts over 2 harsh winters.
Pros
- Safe and reliable
- Long lasting heat lamp that can go on for 6-8 months. It even lasts longer than standard heat lamp bulbs.
- Can even be used indoors to keep pipes from freezing.
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- None
Conclusion
Chicken coop heaters are must-have coop supplies during harsh winter months. Keep your chicks protected from freezing temperatures by selecting the best chicken coop heaters available in the market.
Chicken coop heaters are available in the form of mats, pads, heater lamps, perches, and infrared bulbs. Select the heater based on the area you live in and also the size of your coop.
We hope the above reviews help you make an informed choice in selecting the best chicken coop heater for your birds’ comfort.