Chickens generate enough body heat to keep its surrounding areas warm.
The intent of putting chickens in a greenhouse is not to heat the chickens. Instead, the body heat generated by chickens is being used to heat the greenhouse in cold climates so that flowers and vegetables can continue to grow uninterrupted. Michigan State University student, Rick Meisterheim, reported that 40 chickens used in a greenhouse during the winter months of 1998 raised the greenhouse temperature by 8 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to heat, the chickens release both carbon dioxide and waste that are both beneficial to plant growth. Using chickens to heat greenhouses is an exercise in permaculture, or using one ecosystem to benefit another.
Instructions
1. Do not let chickens run freely through the greenhouse without any other preparation to maintain heat. Build or remodel your greenhouse to attract and maintain heat after temperatures drop. Incorporating chickens into this process will optimize it. Do not depend on the chickens alone to maintain heat levels during winter months to sustain crops. Identify the south end of your greenhouse or the end that gets the most sunlight.
2. Install heat lamps in the ceiling of your greenhouse or harness solar energy. Rick Meisterheim uses solar energy by placing nine water-filled 15-gallon plastic barrels in direct sunlight in the greenhouse. At night when temperatures dropped, these barrels help to keep the greenhouse's inside temperature from dropping too low.
3. Install benches along the walls and down the center of your greenhouse. Place plants on and underneath the benches. Before nightfall, clear some space on the benches so the chickens can sleep on them if they so choose. This will keep body heat very close to your plants.
4. Place an insulated chicken coop next to the greenhouse. Make sure the coop does not block sunlight and that an open door allows the chickens to walk in and out of their pen into the greenhouse. Simone Jester uses heat lamps in her greenhouse and attests to the value of chicken body heat in her YouTube video (see References).
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