Don't beat yourself up too hard, we all do stuff like that. Last year, I had a 250 watt heat bulb in an outside brooder. I built a brooder box and they could come and go from the nice heated box outside and back in again. I ran the cord for the box down from the top. Well the roof over this whole area leaked, which wasn't surprising since I didn't built it to be rain tight, and it only took a little water to get in the hole where the cord ran in from the top---I blew TWO of those expensive heat bulbs---finally built a different box and ran the cord in from the side but the bulb is hanging from the top-- so if it rains and leaks, the bulb won't get wet again. I would have hated to be one of those little chickies in the box when the bulb blew, though. Fortunately, they were all fine.gallo, about the cord cover thats where i am really upset! i helped a friend in payson make one last month for her coop using a water bottle and duct tape. i know how to be safe, i just wasnt! and it didnt even happen on the first day of rain, i should have realized and got my butt out there. i am so frustrated with myself!!
Gallo, thanks for the link on those cord covers. I didn't know such a thing existed! I checked on Amazon, and the ones there don't look as well made. Think I'll order some of those. I've got extension cords running 200+ feet, most of it goes along the top fence line inside my turkey pens and is under cover, but once past those pens and on to the chickens--it is exposed. I'm planning on leaving the cord up permanently and re-routing it so I can put lights on a timer on the chickens as needed. Those covers look like they will help a lot. Any cord that is not above ground, though, needs to be sleeved through something otherwise the packrats chew it.
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