There is a huge range of chicken coop heaters available on the market, but not all of them are created equally.
While your budget is a large factor for the best chicken coop heater for your flock, the quality and wattage of the unit are both just as important.
To make sure you find the best chicken coop heater to keep your chickens warm enough, I’ve reviewed a variety of different products and looked at their pros and cons.
After considering all the options our top picks were…
Best Flat Panel Heater
Best Infrared Heater
Top Considerations To Make When Buying Coop Heaters
When shopping for a heating device for your coop, there are a few factors you need to keep in mind to ensure you select the right product for your birds.
Brand/Manufacturer
Chicken coop heaters are made by many different manufacturers, some you might recognize, some you might not.
Brands that are well-respected by chicken owners are a good place to start as this shows a level of reliability and quality.
Take a look at forums or user reviews of the heater you’re thinking of using to help you figure out whether it’s a trustworthy and high-quality product.
Price
Chicken coop heaters aren’t the cheapest piece of equipment around, but it’s still possible to find one of a decent standard for a relatively low price.
For most heaters designed for chicken coops, price has a direct correlation in terms of their quality.
Cheaper heaters often break quickly, which means you’ll need to replace them frequently.
Prioritize Quality
Additionally, units made with inferior materials or components could increase the risk of fires.
So, if you can afford to spend a little more on a heater, it’s definitely worth the extra money.
Wattage
The wattage or energy rating of a chicken coop heater is the final aspect you need to consider when selecting the right unit for your birds.
As a general rule of thumb, you should opt for a heater with a wattage between 100 watts and 150 watts for a small coop.
However, the size of your coop and the amount of chickens also comes into play.
NOTE
If you own a particularly large coop, then you might need a more powerful heater to keep your chickens warm.
What Are Chicken Coop Heaters?
A chicken coop heater is a heating device you place inside your coop to keep your chickens at a comfortable temperature
If you’re brooding chicks or live in a particularly cold climate, a chicken coop heater can be a good addition to your coop.
Importance of Using Chicken Coop Heaters
Chickens don’t always need heat in their coop. For example, during summer months when it is very hot, using a heating unit can be a fire hazard or cause heat stress.
However, in cold weather, adding some extra heat to your chicken coop can be beneficial to ensure their core body temperature doesn’t drop too low.
Chicks, in particular, need to be kept at an appropriate temperature during winter or cool months to prevent them from becoming sick or worse.
Types of Chicken Coop Heaters
Heaters come in an assortment of designs, each with their highlights and drawbacks.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of heaters you’ll come across.
Flat Panel Heater
Flat panel heaters resemble a flatscreen TV and can be affixed to a wall or left free standing.
They are typically an inexpensive way to heat a chicken coop, but they only heat a small area of your coop rather than heat an entire room.
For this reason, flat panel heaters are best placed near your chickens’ roosting perches to ensure your flock stays warm.
Infrared Heater
An infrared heater can either be fitted on side mounts or hung overhead.
As this type of heater can only heat a small area, it’s best placed near your chickens’ roosting perches.
Oil Filled Radiator
Another safe chicken coop heater worth considering is an oil filled radiator.
It’s essentially a small radiator filled with oil that is electrically heated.
In small and large coops, this type of heating unit is ideal for keeping your chickens warm.
However, they can be a little fiddly to clean and can be a fire hazard if knocked over.
Brooder Plate
A brooder heating plate is necessary for brooding chicks during cold weather.
Brooder plates come in many different shapes and designs, but they’re all designed to keep your chicks warm.
Even with chicken heat lamps, you need to make sure your chicks’ brooding area is free from drafts to prevent them from getting too cold.
Brooder plates normally turn on at 35 °F and off at 45 °F to keep your chicks at an appropriate temperature.
When Should You Use a Coop Heater?
During cold months, using a heater can be a good idea to raise the ambient temperature and ensure your chickens don’t get too cold.
You should also use a heater if you’re brooding chicks.
To see if your chickens or fully feathered chicks need a heating unit, monitor their behavior.
If your chickens seem normal and active, then you might not need a heater.
NOTE
However, if you notice your birds go off their food/water or appear lethargic, then you might want to consider adding some heat.
How Cold Can Chickens Tolerate?
Keeping your chickens at overly cool temperatures can slow their egg production and cause hypothermia…
Chickens can survive in temperatures down into the teens, but this isn’t optimal.
Keeping your chickens at overly cool temperatures can slow their egg production and cause hypothermia, lethargy, poor appetite, and other undesirable side effects.
At What Temperature Should You Heat a Chicken Coop?
The best temperature to keep your chicken coop at is open to interpretation, but a lot of owners keep their coop at temperatures between 40 °F and 50 °F.
Dangers of Heating the Coop
Fire hazard is the main risk of using heaters in your coop, but there are a few other dangers associated with heating the coop that you need to be aware of.
Acclimation
If you experience a power outage or your heater fails, a drastic drop in temperature can be deadly to your chickens as they will be unable to cope with the sudden change. Alternatively, if you heat your coop too quickly, this can also be fatal.
Frostbite
Increasing the ambient temperature in your coop will also increase its humidity, which can cause frostbite in birds with large wattles and combs.
The temperature in your coop doesn’t need to be tropical, so make sure you keep it within your chickens’ comfort zone.
I Don’t Want to Use a Heater, What Else Can I Do?
Heaters don’t work for everyone, so if you’d rather not use one in your coop, there are other things you can do to keep your chickens warm when it’s cold.
Insulation
Adding insulation to your coop such as foam board, feed sacks, shredded newspaper, insulating mats, or cardboard can help heat your chickens’ housing.
Just make sure you cover any insulation with wooden boards or types of peck-proof materials to prevent your birds from eating it.
Putting more bedding on the floor in your coop can also help with insulation.
Straw and hay contain a lot of air pockets that can help keep your chickens toasty.
Coop Size
The amount of space in your coop can affect the overall temperature.
For example, if you have a big coop with only 4 chickens, then there’s a lot of space that isn’t being used.
If this is the case, it might be worthwhile reducing the size of the area or moving your chickens to a small room to help them retain heat.
Blocking Sections
Blocking off a section of your coop can decrease the amount of space that needs to be heated.
You could partition off a part of your coop with plastic sheeting or another type of barricade.
It’s important to note that you should not store straw bales inside your coop as they can become moldy.
Placing them outside your coop for insulation is fine, but they can attract vermin.
FAQs About Heating a Coop
Here’s some important information you should keep in mind before using a chicken coop heater.
Do Chickens Need Heat During Winter?
This depends on where you live and the outside temperature. Some chickens don’t need additional heat during the winter, but if you notice your chickens acting more lethargic or inactive than usual, then you might want to consider using a chicken coop heater.
My Hens Are Sleepy and Aren’t Eating, What’s Wrong?
There are a couple of reasons why your hens might be sleepy and have a poor appetite.
The first possible explanation is hypothermia and the second is low body temperature.
Either way, move your hens into a warm room so they can become more comfortable and active.
My Hens Have Frostbitten Combs, Should I Raise the Heat?
Heat has nothing to do with frostbitten combs. The issue is moisture.
If your hens have frostbitten combs, you should improve the ventilation in your chicken coop.
Best Chicken Coop Heater Reviews
Best Flat Panel Heater
Cozy Products Safe Chicken Coop Pet Heater 200W
Provides gentle radiant heat to cold areas in your coop to make sure your birds acclimate properly to the increased temperature. It also offers more uniform heat than a heat lamp for chickens, which enhances its overall effectiveness.
Cozy Products Safe Chicken Coop Pet Heater 200W
This coop heater from Cozy Products is a fantastic option for keeping your coop nice and toasty during cool conditions.
It doesn’t have any bulbs or lamps that you need to replace, unlike some other heating units or heat lamps for chickens.
Heat Distribution
It provides gentle radiant heat to cold areas in your coop to make sure your birds acclimate properly to the increased temperature.
It also offers more uniform heat than a heat lamp for chickens, which enhances its overall effectiveness.
The coop heater is energy efficient and has a large on/off switch on the power cord.
It has an LED display and built-in thermostat so you always know the amount of heat the unit is producing, which is a handy feature.
The design of this heating device is both refined and sleek.
Suitable for Small or Large Coops
It sports a razor-thin shape, so it can be used in both small and large coops.
For convenience, you can mount the unit to the sides of your coop.
Some oil filled radiators can be a fire hazard, so using a heater like this one from Cozy Products is an ideal option for eliminating that risk.
However, this heating device can deteriorate in efficiency over time. The on/off switch can also stop working or break prematurely.
Specs
- Dimensions: 18.98” x 0.63” x 12.01”
- Weight: 5 lbs
- Material: Plastic
- Wattage: 200 Watts
Pros
- Provides gentle radiant heat
- Sleek and compact design
- Can be mounted to sides of coop
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Can become less effective over time
- On/off switch can break prematurely
Best Infrared Heater
SWEETER HEATER Infrared Heater for Chickens
It produces a uniform heat pattern to prevent any hot spots in your coop. It also has an internal thermostat that automatically switches off if heat is unable to escape
SWEETER HEATER Infrared Heater for Chickens
Another solid choice for a comfortable and cozy coop is the SWEETER HEATER infrared heating unit.
It produces a uniform heat pattern to prevent any hot spots in your coop.
Safety Feature
The device has an internal thermostat that automatically switches off if heat is unable to escape.
It comes with an overhead mount, chains, and hooks so you can suspend it overhead.
You can adjust the hotness of the unit to make sure your birds stay at a comfortable temperature.
It’s a great option for brooding chicks as it’s designed to add warmth to your animals rather than the environment.
Energy Efficient
The device is energy efficient, which makes it relatively low in price to run.
It comes in a sleek white color and can accommodate up to 75 chicks.
However, the device can occasionally stop working after a short period of use.
Specs
- Dimensions: 40" x 1" x 2"
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Wattage: 150 Watts
Pros
- Ideal for brooding chicks
- Includes a built-in thermostat that switches off when heat can’t escape
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Energy efficient
Cons
- Can occasionally break after a short time
Best Oil Filled Radiator
PELONIS Electric 1500W Oil Filled Radiator with Safety Protection
It provides multiple heating settings and 5 temperature settings to help you keep your coop nice and toasty during cold weather.
PELONIS Electric 1500W Oil Filled Radiator with Safety Protection
If you’re looking for a good-quality oil filled radiator for your coop, then this one from PELONIS is worth considering.
Heating Settings
It provides multiple heating settings (900 watts, 1500 watts, and mode) and 5 temperature settings.
You can set the unit to 65 °F, 70 °F, 75 °F, 80 °F, and 85 °F to help you keep your coop nice and toasty during cold weather.
It features an LCD screen, remote control, and a 10-hour timer, which are all great additions.
Portability
The radiator is highly portable as it comes with 4-swivel caster wheels that are capable of 360° rotation.
This allows you to easily move the radiator around.
Safety Features
A range of safety features are implemented into the device, such as a power indicator that notifies you when the unit is actively turned on. There’s also an overheat protection and tip-over safety switch.
The switch automatically turns off the radiator if it is knocked over to help prevent the risk of fire.
The radiator warms up gradually, which is ideal for chickens as it allows them to gradually become accustomed to the heat. Another great aspect of this heating device is its relatively quiet operation. This lets your chickens rest in peace and quiet.
However, the radiator can emit quite a strong smell when it’s turned on. There’s also no option to set the unit to a lower temperature than 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Specs
- Dimensions: 13.78” x 11.02” x 25.19”
- Weight: 16.09 lbs
- Material: Metal
- Wattage: 1500 Watts
Pros
- Adjustable heat and temperature settings
- LCD display and remote control
- Lots of safety features to prevent risk of fire
- Very portable
Cons
- Can emit a strong smell
- Can’t set the temperature below 65°F.
Best Brooding Plates
BrinSea EcoGlow Brooder
If you’re brooding chicks, then BrinSea’s brooder plate is a fantastic choice for ensuring your baby chicks stay at the perfect temperature. This brooder is also on our list of top chicken starter kits, which you can read here.
The plate produces radiant and uniform heat while also minimizing power consumption.
Capacity
The brooder plate can accommodate up to 20 chicks, but larger models are available for bigger broods.
Its height can also be adjusted for various chick sizes.
The legs are adjustable so that one end is raised more than the other.
TIP
If you are brooding a large number of chicks, you can use up to 4 EcoGlow brooder plates side by side to ensure all of your birds maintain a suitable temperature.
The brooder plate uses a metal warming plate to even out any hot and cold plates.
The flared skirt design also retains more heat to make sure your chicks don’t catch a chill.
Unfortunately, this heat lamp can be a little flimsy, which can cause some of the plastic parts to snap off. Its design also makes it a bit difficult and fiddly to clean.
Specs
- Dimensions: 12” x 8” x 8”
- Weight: 1.65 lbs
- Material: Plastic
Pros
- Creates radiant and uniform warmth for chicks
- Adjustable height settings
- Can be used with other EcoGlow brooders
Cons
- Can be a bit flimsy
- Difficult to clean
K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Pad
It can be used for chickens but it’s especially beneficial for chicks to ensure their body temperature doesn’t drop too low.
K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Pad
The last heater I recommend for a cozy coop is the K&H Pet Products heated pad.
Indoor and Outdoor Use
You can use it both indoors or outdoors and can mount it vertically or horizontally. If you’re using it inside your house, you might want to also consider getting them a pair of chicken diapers.
While it can be used for chickens, it’s especially beneficial for chicks to ensure their body temperature doesn’t drop too low.
The pad doesn’t consume a lot of power as it’s only 25 watts, which is a bonus.
Heat Preset
You don’t need to adjust the temperature of the device as it’s already preset to the perfect level of warmth for chicks.
The cord entrance and the first 18 inches of the power cord are capped with steel to prevent pecking for added safety.
There are holes in each corner of the pad which allow for screws so you can anchor the device to wood surfaces or wire it in place in chicken coops.
However, the pad can sometimes struggle to heat up over time.
Also, it might not provide enough warmth for a particularly large coop or brood.
Specs
- Dimensions: 9” x 0.5” x 12”
- Weight: 1.6 oz
- Wattage: 25 Watts
Pros
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
- Energy efficient
- Peck-proof
Cons
- Can sometimes struggle to heat up
- Might not provide enough warmth for large broods or coops
Conclusion
Here’s a quick recap of all our top picks…
Best Flat Panel Heater
Best Infrared Heater
Best Flat Panel Heater
After looking at a range of chicken heaters for coops, I think the best chicken coop heater is the Cozy Products CL Safe Chicken Heater 200 Watts.
This 200 watt warmer offers gentle radiant heat to help your chickens acclimate to the increased warmth in their habitat.
It is easy to install and sports a large on/off switch, as well as an LED display and built-in thermostat.
You can mount it to the sides of your coop for convenience, too.
I really like the design of this heater as it’s compact and thin, which means it doesn’t take up a huge amount of space.
ETL-listed and rated for zero clearance, the Cozy CL Coop is safer than a brooder lamp or space heaters.
My only gripe with the unit is its durability. The heating element can become less effective over time and the on/off switch can occasionally break.
Great Alternatives
If you don’t think the Cozy Products space heater is the right match for you, then I also recommend the SWEETER HEATER Infrared Heater for Chickens and BrinSea EcoGlow Brooder.
Both devices are great choices for brooding chicks.
Best Infrared Heater
The former produces uniform heat to prevent hot spots from occurring in your coop. It includes an overhead mount, as well as chains and hooks so you can suspend it up high.
When heat is unable to escape the device, it automatically turns itself off to protect your birds, which is a really helpful feature.
It’s also energy efficient and has adjustable heating settings.
However, the unit can sometimes stop working prematurely.
Best Brooding Plates
The BrimSea EcoGlow brooder also outputs a steady and gentle level of heat without using too much power. It’s suitable for up to 20 chicks, but it can be used with other EcoGlow brooders for bigger broods.
You can adjust the height of the brooder plate to suit chicks of varying sizes, too.
Despite its positives, the device can be a bit flimsy, which can cause some of the plastic parts to break off.
Its design can also make it not easy to clean.
Stay Warm!
Thanks for reading this review. I hope you enjoyed and learned a lot from it. Be sure to check out the site if you need some info on chicken related products. From chicken water nipples to treadle feeders, we cover it all!
