The better and cheaper way to heat a chicken coop in winter, how to choose a heater

A safe wintering is the key to the health and stable egg production of poultry. Preparing the bird's home for the cold period by organizing the heating of the chicken coop correctly in winter and late autumn will be an important step in caring for chickens. What set of measures must be taken to naturally insulate the room, and in what case will an additional heating device be required?

Is it possible to do without additional heating?

Sudden temperature fluctuations, unpredictable weather conditions and prolonged cold periods negatively affect the biorhythms and activity of poultry. In northern regions with a harsh climate and frosty winters, additional heating of the room is indispensable. A heater and wall insulation are required.

In the southern regions and regions with a temperate climate, it is enough to carefully consider a wall insulation system and provide the bird with high-calorie vitamin nutrition. The chicken coop should be heated using the principle of a thermos. The floor, walls and ceiling are laid with insulation; it is necessary to caulk all gaps, joints and cracks, leaving a small hole for ventilation. With this arrangement, chickens are able to withstand winter with an outside temperature of -12 ⁰WITH.

Required temperature

The optimal temperature inside the chicken coop during winter is +12…+15 ⁰C. Birds feel comfortable in this temperature regime and fly stably. Temperatures can be reduced to +8 ⁰WITH.

On a note! Install a thermometer inside the coop to constantly monitor the temperature inside the coop.

Achieve winter temperatures above +15 ⁰There is no need, this will lead to an increase in energy costs, and it will not benefit the chickens. An increase in temperature in the chicken coop in winter disrupts the life biorhythms of the bird.

Methods for insulating a chicken coop

There are two ways to create the optimal temperature inside the chicken coop in winter:

• install a heater;
• insulate the walls, floor and ceiling of the room.

In regions with harsh climates, both methods will need to be applied simultaneously. The insulation system is best thought out and implemented during the construction of the chicken coop.

Natural insulation

Natural insulation refers to the multi-layering of all surfaces in the chicken coop. The floor is made double or covered with insulation; an additional layer of expanded clay is often laid under the concrete.

The walls and ceiling are also lined with insulation, and all cracks are caulked. The roof of the chicken coop must be airtight; drafts inside the room are unacceptable. In this case, a prerequisite for normal air circulation in the chicken coop is the presence of ventilation, which also needs to be insulated.

Artificial insulation

Artificial insulation refers to the use of various types of heaters and electrical devices. These include:

• IR lamps;
• IR heaters;
• electric heaters;
• gas heaters;
• stoves;
• water heating.

When using each type of heater, it is necessary to consider a fire safety system and automatic shutdown of devices in the event of force majeure. The choice of heating agent depends on the technical capabilities of the room and the farmer’s goals. Electric heaters and stoves have gained the most popularity.

Combination of natural and artificial systems

To insulate a chicken coop, a combination of natural and artificial systems is used. Without insulation of walls, ceilings and floors, heat will escape to the street, the heater loses up to 50% of its efficiency.In regions with harsh climates, sources of natural insulation are not enough to maintain a temperature of +15 ⁰From indoors.

Preparing the chicken coop for insulation

To effectively warm the birds in winter, preparatory work is carried out in the chicken coop in the summer. First of all, the room is disinfected. As a rule, ultraviolet lamps are used in combination with lime whitening of all surfaces. The birds are moved to another room.

Insulation of the room

To ensure heat conservation inside the chicken coop, it is necessary to insulate all surfaces of the room: floor, ceiling and walls. If the old insulation has deteriorated or rotted, it must be completely removed.

Stan

A budget option for insulation material is polystyrene foam or mineral wool. They are used to sheathe the surface of walls and ceilings. The joints between the walls, floor and ceiling are caulked.

Paula

The natural insulation of the floor inside the chicken coop is a bedding made of straw, sawdust or other material. When pouring the floor with concrete or cement, it is recommended to lay a layer of expanded clay - this will significantly insulate the surface.

To prevent chickens' paws from freezing in winter, the layer of natural litter is increased to 20 centimeters. Over time, the floor becomes contaminated with chicken droppings; it must be promptly removed by adding fresh litter. The ideal material for bedding is sphagnum, which additionally disinfects the surface due to its natural properties.

Ceiling

The ceiling is the main place in the room where heat goes according to the laws of physics. Mineral wool is often used to insulate the roof of a chicken coop. To prevent it from being exposed to moisture, waterproofing is installed. The hem is usually made of wood. All cracks are covered with polyurethane foam.

Additional heating

The choice of heaters is quite extensive; the farmer chooses a tool according to his preferences, the need for a thermostat and the technical capabilities of the room.

Electric heaters

There are different types of electric heaters. The main advantage of these devices is the ability to set a certain temperature that must be maintained. The devices are easy to use and easy to install.

The disadvantages of such systems include the relative high cost of the necessary resources in the form of the cost of electricity.

Heater

Type of electric heating device. Often such systems are installed in poultry farms and large farms. The essence of the device is the constant circulation of warm air from the heating element using fans. The room heats up quickly, warm air is evenly distributed throughout the space.

The main disadvantage of the air heater is the high cost of installing the heating system, additional ventilation equipment is required, and the device is noisy. When the heater is turned off, the room quickly cools down.

Oil heater

An electrical device that heats a room using a coolant in the form of special oil. Such heaters are characterized by a high degree of safety, mobility, absence of noise, efficiency and low power consumption.

The disadvantage of oil systems is the slow and uneven heating of the coop.

Electric convector

The operation of the device is based on air convection. An electric convector sucks in cold air from the room while releasing warm air. This ensures uninterrupted air circulation in the chicken coop.The device is easy to operate, it belongs to the class of energy-saving systems, does not dry out the air in the room, and has a low noise level.

For uninterrupted operation of the device, it is necessary to ensure stable operation of the electrical network. Disadvantage: the room cools down quickly after turning off the device.

IR heater

The operation of the device is based on the action of electromagnetic infrared radiation on living organisms. The device is not complicated, it is easy to install indoors. The IR heater operates silently and safely, consumes little energy and does not dry out the air in the room. IR film can be laid on any surface in the required plane.

The disadvantages of the device are possible disruptions in the biorhythms of birds and animals, the sleep of chickens is disturbed, since the device emits light during operation, and the IR heater heats the object, not the room.

Ceramic panel

Based on the operating principle of an IR heater. Mounted on walls or ceilings indoors. Such panels are easy to use, consume little energy, and are safe for birds and animals.

Other ways without electricity

If the technical possibility in the room does not allow electricity supply, then stove, water or gas heating is used.

Using a potbelly stove

Type of stove heating for a chicken coop. Potbelly stoves require the installation of a chimney. You can heat the stove using wood, coal or fuel briquettes. All types of fuel are environmentally friendly and do not emit toxins. Maintaining a potbelly stove is cheap and not difficult. But using stoves in a chicken coop requires compliance with all fire safety standards.

The disadvantages of stove heating include the need to constantly add fuel material and the release of an unpleasant odor when fuel burns.

Heating a chicken coop with gas

One of the most practical, safe and inexpensive heating methods. The gas heating system is based on two possible methods:

• through water pipes;
• using a convector.

Such systems are used in poultry farms and large farms. The chicken coop heats up quickly, the room temperature is maintained at a constant level, there is no unpleasant smell or noise.

Water heating

The heated water transfers its heat to the batteries. Convenient, simple and safe. The room heats up gradually and evenly. Batteries can be made of cast iron, metal or plastic.

Which heater to choose?

Maintaining the correct temperature in the chicken coop in winter is a necessary condition for keeping chickens. When choosing a heater, it is necessary to take into account the technical capabilities of the room, the number of chickens and the final goals of the farmer. Some types of heating systems can be made and installed by yourself. The heater is selected according to the following parameters:

• technical feasibility of installing a fuel system;
• cost of installation and maintenance of the device;
• degree of fire hazard;
• the number of square meters of room that the device can heat;
• necessary ventilation system;
• presence of a thermostat.

It is important to remember that the effect of a heating device can only be achieved if the chicken coop is completely naturally insulated. Work on artificial additional insulation is carried out in combination with the natural insulation of the room.