Cheapest Flat Panel Heaters

[ChooksChick]

I've used this one and been very happy with it- I got it for $45 shipped from this same company but off of ebay. It was last year, so the price may fluxuate.

 

[teach1rusl]

Shop the Coop's (though a fun place to "window shop") prices are higher than a cat's a@@. I can get a thermocube for $12-$18, while their's are $30 or so. The Amazon one is made for the indoors, and your coop housing is indoor, so it should work pretty much like the others. But I've never heard of that brand. I think if it was hung on the wall behind the roosts, it would allow a little warmth for the chickens at night (based on reviews I read). Several folks who posted last winter here on BYC have the Sweeter Heater, and say pretty much the same thing, that it provides a little warmth, but not much (which I think is what most people are looking for who use supplemental heat in their coops). If I were doing it, I'd probably opt for the $80 just because it's a brand I've heard good about...

You can "search" sweeter heater here on the forum and find old posts about them...

 

[Cargo]

You can build the same thing by wiring a row of Christmas lights threw a hot water thermostat an stuffing the lights an thermostat in to a piece of pipe. I have one in my brooder.

I had no idea they put out that much heat. Can we get some specs on the lights?
I watched the video about using the hot water thermostat just yesterday but I couldn't figure out what I would want to be at 100+ degrees.
Now it makes sense!​

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

Quote:
Tell me about it ! How big are your houses? Do you have in an isleway,in with chickens, Hanging,setting on floor?? Details girl, I need details.

 

[hokankai]

Is it pointless to use one of these in a non-insulated coop? It doesn't get terribly cold here in the Pacific NW...but I'm considering it if they get uncomfortable.

 

[JenO]

Has anyone ever tried something like this
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1977-09-01/Mothers-Heat-Grabber.aspx
or this
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/04/26/almost-free-garage-heat-just-drink-a-lot-of-soda/

I know we have a surplus of cheap do-it-yourselfers (myself included) so thought maybe I'd toss this out and see if anyone had considered it. I've seen other versions of this using a dryer vent tube for the air to pass thru, but can't find that link...

JenO

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Okay, I'm not the handy kind so I'm missing something when I read about the Christmas lights.
What roll does the thermostat play?
Does it turn the lights on or off?
I don't get it, but I'm intrigued...and I may want to use something if the weather should become dangerously cold.

Thanks in advance if someone could explain this to me.
Carrie Lynn

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The thermostat is to cut the lights on an off to keep the pipe warm enough to warm the chicks but not so hot it burns them or melts its self.

Heres a video I did on a cookie tin heater that works the same way
http://cmfarm.us/cookietin.html
The pipe would work the same but be a pipe an Christmas lights. Working on that video now.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Tell me about it ! How big are your houses? Do you have in an isleway,in with chickens, Hanging,setting on floor?? Details girl, I need details.

I use poop boards, so I simply have it sitting on the poop board next to the roost so it affected several birds nearby. It won't heat up a large coop, but keep a 4x4x4 warm. I simply used it to keep the smallest on the roost warmer and then it also keeps frost from settling in the coop. I want them to be safe but largely independent of real human-induced comfort, because we lose power all the time due to ice storms. This keeps them from super freezing stuff, but keeps their feathering pretty stout.

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Thank you, I got it now.
What is the range of the thermostat?
Would this idea of using lights work if I used an extension cord connected to a Thermocube instead of the thermostat?
The only problem is, I think the on/off temps, 35 and 45 degrees respectively, are too warm. I want my birds to handle at least 30 degree weather without heat.
I too, have one hen I'm concerned about, a Bantam Leghorn. Although, I've been assured she would do as well as the larger birds.
My coop is also a 4x4x4. Do you know how warm the coop gets?

Again, thanks...