Worried eggs will freeze in the winter

[Fliese]

I'm in ND and have the occasional -40 day. Last year was my first with chickens and, even checking on the nests every hour or two, nearly all of my eggs froze. It doesn't take that long when it's that cold. I even had bales of straw stacked all around the coop and nesting boxes. My plan for this year is to put in pet bed heaters, like you use for rabbits. They'll run on a timer and hopefully do the trick. My main worry is that the hens will just sit in the nests all day, but I figure I can deal with that when I come to it.

There is a company that makes ceramic nest box heaters that heat to just 34 or something, but they are expensive and my boxes are about 1/2" too small. You could look into something like that. I'd avoid heating the coop as there are just too many dangers with that.

You could always just let them freeze and if you feel comfortable with eating them, they'd be fine for baking or scrambled eggs. If you don't feel comfortable eating them (some worry about bacteria getting in when the shell cracks) you can still cook them and feed them to the hens.

 

[Island Roo]

I taught my hens to use these.
Some of the younger hens still don't close the button.

 

[Pathfinders]

 

[Alaskan]

I taught my hens to use these. Some of the younger hens still don't close the button.

I super love that!

 

[Going Quackers]

I taught my hens to use these.
Some of the younger hens still don't close the button.

Let me guess they laid the carton too.

 

[enola]

Some body has too much time on their hands. I love it!

 

[Island Roo]

Some body has too much time on their hands. I love it!

No kidding!!!

A friend / customer who is concerned about my chickens and eggs this winter sent the picture to me. She also sent this picture of chicken sweaters.

 

[Island Roo]

Thanks to those who provided real and creative advice in the first 11 posts. I found it very useful in answering the original question - which I also needed advice on.

 

[zando]

OK, here is what I came up with, and so far it's working just fine.
We are near Calgary, Alberta, and this week it's -28C (approx -20 F). everything freezes, except my eggs (...and my hen's eggs, which we are actually discussing).
I have uninsulated barn that has the same temperature as outside, minus the wind. I purchased heating tape from Home Depot - the kind you wrap around your pipes so they do not freese. I stretched it flat, drilled holes on the dividing walls between the boxes at the level of the bottom board, and pulled it through from the first to the last box and back (kind of an U shape when looked at from above). The tape has built in thermo unit so it kicks in when cold and turns off when warmer, and keeps the temperature at 5-7C ( 42F), just enough to keep the eggs from freezing without cooking them. The hens do not care for the wire that is under them (and is covered with straw). At the same time the tape is not warm enough so the hens do not stay in the boxes overnight...)
Today we had -28C and after coming back from work - zero frozen eggs. I am veryy happy with my "invention".
hope this helps you all.
link to the product: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/15-ft-electric-pipe-heating-cable/909328

 

[Hokum Coco]

Watering
For along time I used heater tape around a bucket with chicken watering nipples. It worked excellent. However me being me I neglected to change the water as often as I should. This is what it looks like and it thermostatically controlled to come on at just above the freezing temperature. You would have to wrap it to suit your particular application if it is viable for your set up. It is available at Home Depot in Canada. It could also be used to keep your eggs from freezing.