Have you ever wondered why your chickens lay fewer eggs in the winter all of a sudden? When a chicken faces extreme cold (common in the USA), it can’t fulfill its needs and halts egg production.
You may use heat bulbs to heat your chicken coops, but it’s not safe as there’s a chance of catching fire. To ensure a warm and safe environment, you can use chicken coop heaters instead.
Why? Well, the best heaters for chicken coops are portable, easy to install, energy-efficient, and have adjustable temperature control.
Interested in getting one? Tag along with us as we bring you some of the best chicken coop heaters that make your chicks more than ready for winter.
Quick View: 6 Best Heaters for Chicken Coops
- ZOLIMX Energy Efficient Space Heater for Chicken Coops
- Petnf Chicken Coop Heater
- Bio Green PAL Palma Greenhouse Heater
- K&H Pet Products Thermo Chicken Coop Heated Pad
- BOEESPAT Ceramic Heat Emitter
- Patio Heater-Trustech Space Heater
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6 Best Heaters for Chicken Coops Review
Although many will tell you not to use chicken coop heaters as chicks are hardy birds, it is better to provide a stable environment. The temperatures fluctuate a lot during winter, and heaters stabilize the body temperature and keep the coop warm.
Consider checking these top-notch chicken coop heaters before you pick one.
1. ZOLIMX Energy Efficient Space Heater for Chicken Coops
Not everyone has a large number of chickens and a big coop. Using a giant heater will be inefficient if you have a small coop. To make sure your small chicken coop is heated properly, we bring you the ZOLIMX heater.
Despite being only 5.6 inches in size, the ZOLIMX infrared heater boasts powerful heating technology. Thanks to its smart heating wire, it takes no time to raise the temperature of the chicken coop. The faster your coop heats up, the better.
Because of the flame redundant ceramic heating elements and the internal thermostat meter, this heater provides a stable temperature for a long time. No fluctuation in temperature equals happy and healthy chickens.
Safety and power consumption seem to be ZOLIMX’s main target as this heater consumes way less electricity than others. The exterior also ensures no chicken is harmed. Fire hazard? Out of the question.
The brushless DC motor works silently. It can distribute the heat evenly throughout the entire coop. The 50 decibels silent motor ensures no disturbance, resulting in comfort for the chickens. Which makes it one of the best heaters you can get for a chicken coop.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
Considering how well-priced, compact, and feature-rich the ZOLIMX chicken coop heater is, you should get it if you have a small chicken coop.
2. Petnf Chicken Coop Heater
Flat-panel heaters are the safest because you can mount them on the roof. The heater maintains a safe distance from the chickens, causing no harm. Is safety all the Petnf heater provides? Let’s find out.
Unlike other infrared heaters that use too much electricity, this one has a rating of 140w. The low wattage rating means it is very energy efficient and can decrease the electricity bill by noticeable margins.
This chicken coop heater has a button that changes the temperature on the go. You can effectively switch between 122 to 167 degrees Fahrenheit or 50 to 70 Celsius. Because of this option, you can change the coop temperature based on the outside temperature.
Safety is Petnf’s top concern as they have made sure the heater meets UL standards. After undergoing many safety tests, this heater has come out victorious and is a highly safe chicken coop heater. No fire risk at all.
However, the only problem is the range of the heater. As it does not have any motor like most space heaters, it only has an effective range of 40cm. So, your chickens need to be close to the heater.
You can increase its effectiveness by putting it closer to the chickens. This heater includes legs to make it stand upright to do that. Ultimately, you get two installation options: horizontal and vertical.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
This flat panel heater is best suitable for small coops. Its energy efficiency, changeable temperature, and safety are all you’ll need to keep the chickens warm.
3. Bio Green PAL Palma Greenhouse Heater
What if you have a big chicken coop and are in dire need of a chicken coop heater that can cover the entire place?
Here’s your solution: the Bio Green Palma heater can easily cover up to 120 square feet, making it ideal for large coops with many chickens. This is possible due to its powerful heating core that operates at 1500W.
Despite having such a big wattage rating, this coop heater only has a 9.0 A max power consumption. It will consume much less electricity compared to similar 1500W heaters.
This chicken coop heater’s durability is outstanding. All thanks to its stainless steel exterior. That’s not all. You get an IP4 water resistance rating which means your chicken coop heater is safe from water splashes and even rain (to some extent).
What about the size? It has a compact size and lightweight design that help you carry it around effortlessly. Also, it comes with a steel flooring stand that keeps the chicken coop heater steady and upright.
The only downside of this chicken coop heater is that the included thermostat does not work correctly sometimes. Fear not; you can get a replacement overnight if your one does not function well.
What if you have a big chicken coop and are in dire need of a chicken coop heater that can cover the entire place?
Here’s your solution: the Bio Green Palma heater can easily cover up to 120 square feet, making it ideal for large coops with many chickens. This is possible due to its powerful heating core that operates at 1500W.
Despite having such a big wattage rating, this coop heater only has a 9.0 A max power consumption. It will consume much less electricity compared to similar 1500W heaters.
This chicken coop heater’s durability is outstanding. All thanks to its stainless steel exterior. That’s not all. You get an IP4 water resistance rating which means your chicken coop heater is safe from water splashes and even rain (to some extent).
What about the size? It has a compact size and lightweight design that help you carry it around effortlessly. Also, it comes with a steel flooring stand that keeps the chicken coop heater steady and upright.
The only downside of this chicken coop heater is that the included thermostat does not work correctly sometimes. Fear not; you can get a replacement overnight if your one does not function well.
Speaking of which, you get a UL-approved 110V digital thermostat that helps you keep an eye on the ambient temperature. Also, you can adjust the temperature via the dialer to achieve multiple heating settings.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
If you are a person who leaves their chicken coop heater unsupervised and wants a stable temperature for a big coop, the Bio Green Palma heater is for you.
4. K&H Pet Products Thermo Chicken Coop Heated Pad
Using typical chicken coop flat panel heaters won’t be a suitable option if you want to keep your chicks warm both indoors and outdoors. You’ll need a heating pad for that task, and K&H has got your back.
This 12.5 inches by 18.5 inches chicken coop heater can effectively provide warmth to your chickens. The best part is that the pad heats up according to the core body temperature of your chickens. This means that they will get the exact warmth they need. No more, no less.
Another cool thing about this heating pad is that your chickens can sit or lay on it directly without any problem. All thanks to the USA/CA electrical safety standards.
The only downside of this chicken coop heater is that it can only keep a small flock of chickens warm. That too, if the chickens are very close to or in direct contact with the heater. They won’t receive heat if they are far away.
You’ll be glad to know that this ABS plastic build heater is peck-resistant. This means chickens won’t damage the heater using their beaks. You can mount this chicken coop heater horizontally or vertically.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
If you are looking for an inexpensive flat panel heater for your backyard chickens, the K&H Thermo will be one of the best chicken coop heaters.
5. BOEESPAT Ceramic Heat Emitter
The BOEESPAT ceramic heat emitter is suitable if you don’t have too much money to buy space heaters. How well does this ceramic heat lamp perform as the only remaining inexpensive option? Let’s find out.
This heat emitter’s filament is hidden underneath a layer of the high-quality ceramic shell. Unlike other heating light bulbs or lamps, this one does not illuminate the coop. Thus, causing no disturbance of sleep during cold nights.
Due to its hidden filament, you can be 100% sure that the chances of a fire hazard are almost non-existent. This should calm you down if you are scared of using heat lamps. It is also water and explosion-proof and is very easy to install.
The best part is that this heat lamp bulb can continuously run for 24 hours a day in cold weather. This lamp has a lifespan of 15000 hours. That is insane, considering how easily traditional lamps die.
Its spiral filament design means that longer filament can be used. The longer the filament, the more heat output you get. Because of this design, you also get uniform heat distributed across a big area.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
With virtually no drawbacks, the BOEESPAT ceramic heat lamp is genuinely one of the finest heating lamps out there. Its safety features and heating system are truly unbeatable.
6. Patio Heater-Trustech Space Heater
The Patio heater is easily one of the most advanced chicken coop heaters out there. But does having fancy features and top-level specifications make it the right coop heater for you? We are here to answer that question.
This infrared heater is THE most energy-efficient heater you can find. Thanks to the gold-plated carbon fiber tubes, the coop heater delivers an excellent heating solution at less than 50-60% power.
Because of its top-level specs, this coop heater can warm up the space within 3 seconds. Yes, you heard us right.
You also get 3 levels of temperature control, including 500, 1000, and 1500w. This gives you the flexibility to change temperature according to the weather and the chickens’ body heat.
It is a 31-inch tall heater meant for a large coop. The height can be a problem if you have a compact/small coop with a low roof.
The Patio heater comes with a 24 hours timer which lets you shut off the coop heater on schedule. You can use this to automatically turn off the heater when it’s daytime.
This chicken coop heater comes with a remote that lets you adjust the temperature or turn off/on the heater itself for even more convenience.
Pros
Cons
Short Verdict
If budget is not the problem, and you have a big coop with many chickens, the Patio space heater will be the best chicken coop heater in the long run.
Before You Buy What to Lookfor?
There are a few crucial factors to consider before buying coop heaters. As temperatures drop down to minus in the US, it is necessary to check all of these factors to ensure a warm and cozy environment for your precious chickens.
Don’t settle down for anything less than the best chicken coop heater. Here’s what you need to know –
Coverage Area
You should check the most important thing before purchasing chicken coop heaters. And always get the one that is suitable for your coop.
For example, if you get a heater that only covers 50sq feet while your coop is larger than that, the heater won’t be able to keep up with the ample space. Thus, not performing how it should.
Before you buy a coop heater, make sure to check its coverage area. And also, check the size to ensure if it will fit your coop or not.
Some heaters can only keep nearby chickens warm. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as they cost less. These heaters are for people who have a few chickens.
Adjustable Temperature
The temperature won’t be the same every day. Sometimes the temperature increases, and it decreases as well.
The best chicken coop heater should have an adjustable temperature mode that lets you set the temp according to the outside temperature. This will ensure that your chickens get as much heat as they need.
Coop heaters that don’t have this feature will worsen your chicken as the coop temperature will fall or rise based on the outside temperature. Temperature fluctuation is not good.
Energy Efficiency
This is pretty simple and basic, so we won’t get into it too much. You must check whether the heater has any energy efficiency. Almost all the new heater models have this feature, so don’t worry much about it, but just check it to be sure.
Motor
A motor is not a familiar term used in heaters, but it is still crucial. All the coop heaters that push out warm air have motors inside of them. Depending on the type of motor, it can be noisy or silent.
Of course, you have to go for the silent one as noise can disturb or cause fatigue to your chickens. Coop heaters with brushless DC motors are usually very quiet and inexpensive.
Remotes
Although this does not directly affect the performance of the coop heater, a remote saves you a lot of energy. You can control the heater from a distance without having to go inside the coop or take out the heater. No physical contact with the heater is needed, so you can just chill.
Having an automatic timer will be even better as you can set the timer to turn off when it’s daytime – saving you a lot of electricity bills. But, of course, timer and remotes come with only the most expensive coop heaters.
Safety
You should always go for a heater with a protective cover in front of its filament or heating plate. Not having any protection in front of its heat source will result in a fire hazard.
Although, you don’t need to worry about fires. Why? Well, because all of the modern chicken coop heaters come with safety features to safely heat your chicken coop.
Internal Thermostat
Having a heater with an internal thermostat is vital because, without one, your heater might not be able to keep a stable temperature the entire day. As you know, temperature fluctuations are not suitable for chickens, so you should get a heater with a thermostat.
Types of Heaters and Lamps
Well, you may get tons of options when it comes to heating coops. There’s a lot to choose from, from heaters hung from the ceiling to heaters that go beneath chickens.
Here is everything you need to know, from the best chicken coop heaters to the worst:
Space Heater
This is the most common and energy-efficient heater for chicken coops. It is also a very safe chicken coop heater. This heater usually stands on one side of the coop and blows warmth via motor. The temperature can also be adjusted.
Oil-filled radiator heaters also fall under this category. Unlike electricity-powered space heaters, oil radiator heaters are not very energy efficient. But, both of these space heaters are very safe as the heating unit is not exposed.
Sweeter Heater
A sweet heater, also known as an infrared heater, is a type of heater that has a brooder lamp as its heat source. Unlike flat panel heaters, they can’t be mounted on the ceiling. You can only hang them.
However, you can’t adjust the temperature on a sweeter heater. The only way to increase or decrease the radiant heat is to increase or decrease the height of the heater.
Brooder Plate
A brooder plate is a heater with a heating plate and looks like a tent. This is mainly used for supplemental heat. The tent has an adjustable height so that you can increase or decrease the height according to the size of your chickens.
Brooder plates don’t have temperature adjustment, but they automatically turn on or off depending on the right temp.
You also get an indicator light for knowing when the chicken brooder heater is turned on. Just a reminder: do not use brooder lamps. As the heating element is exposed, they are likely to cause a fire.
Heated Pad
Heated pads are compact pads that can be mounted to walls or lay flat to the ground. The chickens can directly sit on it to get warmth if you lay it flat.
Most heated pads automatically provide the correct temperature after analyzing the body temperature of the chicks.
However, the radiant heat can only be felt from a close distance. So, the chickens need to be near the pad.
Heat Lamp Bulb
As the name suggests, these are bulbs that go inside light holders. They are infamous for causing fires. This is why you shouldn’t use traditional lamp bulbs, brooder lamps, or heat lamps because the heating unit is exposed.
Instead, use ceramic lamp emitters because a ceramic layer protects the filament. They also don’t emit light.
Common Problems with Coop Heaters
Like any other technology, coop heaters also come with a few problems that most people face. Even if you have the best chicken coop heater, some issues remain.
Condensation Issues
When using a coop heater, you will close all the windows and doors to keep the warmth trapped. This will also trap moisture and cause condensation. And we all know condensation is the number one reason for frostbite.
Sudden Temperature Drop
If you use a coop heater with any backup generator, the temperature will drop drastically when the electricity goes out. This temp shift will cause problems for the chickens as they are not acclimated to it.
Fire Risks
Any heat source is likely to cause a fire if you are unlucky enough. No matter how safe these technologies are, the risk is still there.
Impact on Chicks
Coop heaters change the habits of chickens. They find warmth within the coop, so they don’t like to go outside. Fresh air, sunlight, and moving around outside are essential for raising chickens.
Extra Ways to Keep Chickens Warm
As experts often tell you not to use heaters to warm coops because “chickens don’t need heaters,” you might be interested in keeping them warm in other ways.
The first way to ensure a warm environment is to cover the entire coop with clothes or tarps. This will help trap the heat inside the coop and ensure nothing comes in.
You can also add temporary walls and lower the ceiling to compress space, forcing the chickens to cuddle up and stay together. The combined body temperature will keep them warm.
Keeping the floor dry using bedding materials will also keep the chickens warm. You can use a foam board to do that.
When Is Heating the Coop Not Recommended
Raising chickens is easy as they are hardy birds, meaning they can survive a wide range of temperatures. But, if you want them to thrive, the temperature should be from 45F to 65F.
If you see that your coop has a 45 to 65 degrees F temperature, then heating the coop is not recommended.
You should only heat the coop if the temperature goes below 40F. We would also suggest not heating the coop if you don’t have a backup power source. Chickens don’t like sudden temperature drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you clean chicken coop heaters?
If your chicken coop heater doesn’t have any exposed heating elements, you can use a damp rag with vinegar and baking soda mix to clean it.
2. Will the chicken coop heater turn back on automatically after a power outage?
Generally speaking, all the coop heaters turn back on after power outages. If you want to be sure, manually check by unplugging the power and then plugging it back.
3. Will the chicken coop heater shut off after reaching its set temperature?
The coop heater will only stop heating if it has a thermostat system. Without one, your heater will continue to push out heat. Let it be a sweeter heater or brooder plates; all of them work this way.
4. Are chicken coop heaters waterproof?
Well, most chicken coop heaters may not have this feature available. So, double-check if you want a waterproof coop heater.
5. Do chicken coop heaters run on solar energy?
No, coop heaters either run on electricity or oil radiators. Solar energy doesn’t provide enough power to run a chick coop heater.
Final Words
Whether brooding chicks or giving your chickens a comfortable environment, you can achieve it only by using the best heaters for chicken coops.
These heaters provide heat and keep your chickens safe from various cold diseases. So, choose a suitable heater according to your needs and keep your chicks safe.
Dont forget to check our guide on helping keeping chickens warm without electricty