[Diana in Wisconsin]

I never heated my coop in the winter months up here on the Frozen Tundra. It was a standard coop, about 8x8x10 of living space. As long as they have a roost where they can cuddle together for body heat, I had no problems.

You DO need to have sturdier breeds for the North, though. You want hens with small ‘combs’ which easily can get frostbitten.

On some years, when we had below zero temps for weeks on end, I put Vasoline on their combs to keep them from getting frostbite.

I never lost a hen to the cold. Lost them to dogs, wild mink or hawks, but never to the cold.

[virgil]

Thanks. No hen is dressed properly without her shawl. LOL

Diana, do you live north of Stevens Point?