Can you heat *just* nesting box and not entire coop in winter?

[chicklets81]

This might be a really stupid question, and I know its summer time, but my brain thinks of random things sometimes, and this was one of my random thoughts!

On the really cold days while I'm at work, sometimes the eggs freeze and crack before I get a chance to collect them.

My coop is on the bigger side, 11x8, and not insulated. I really am not interested in "heating" my coop. Chickens don't need heat, and I really don't care to put any heat source inside as it could be a fire hazard. (I plug in a heated bowl for their water, but that's it)

Instead of heating the entire coop, is there a way to heat just the nesting box so the eggs don't freeze, and not have to heat the whole thing?

Any thoughts are appreciated

 

[Folly's place]

You could use one of those 'heat blankets', now available to pet stores and TSC, at least in fall and winter. Mary

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

seedling mat under nesting material connected to a thermocube would do the trick.

Gary

 

[Mrs. K]

FIRE is what comes to mind, and I admit that your eggs would not be frozen...

On frozen eggs, I just take them in the house, and let them thaw, and use them quickly.
Mrs K

 

[Folly's place]

I also don't heat the nest boxes, and just deal with having some frozen eggs. I don't loose enough to justify buying and using a nest box heater. Mary

 

[aart]

@RonP came up with a solution.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/heated-nesting-boxes-help-stop-frozen-eggs.67252/

Tho the heat mats are pretty safe, how you get power to them(thinking multiple extension cords) could be a fire hazard. So, have to say, be careful.

 

[azygous]

I use a heating pad in a nesting box from time to time if I have a hen who's struggling to lay a stubborn egg. I've often thought it would be a dandy remedy for the problem of freezing eggs.