Chicken Coop Heating

[slagbuster]

I just built my coop. Being here in Massachusetts it does get cold, and the wife was concerned about the chickens freezing, even though we insulated the coop. I found a very cool product online at Http://CaloriQue.com . It is a flexible film radiant heating panel.
They make it for 12", 16" and 24" oc framing. I put 10 panels at 10 watts each, under the roost area, so it is like a 100 watt light bulb except that the heat is spread out over 12.6 sq ft. Highly energy efficient. It hasn't gotten cold enough yet to use, but we're anxious to see how it performs. We did put down cheap ceramic tile for a floor, so we think it should radiate the heat really well.

 

[jojothechicken]

Hello,
I also live in Massachusetts, and yesterday actually I went out to buy a heat lamp for the winter coming up. I asked the owner of the store and he said they would be totally fine without it. I have four hens and an un-insulated 4x8 coop, I think they will be fine without it if you don't want the hassle or totally keep it if you are worried about them.

 

[ailurophile23]

Thanks for sharing the interesting idea for heating the coop - can't wait to hear how it performs. I am sure many of us would love to have warm ceramic tiles in our own homes, much less in the chicken coop!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[slagbuster]

On our coop, we recycled a lot of demolition materials, and salvage from our home renovation project. What we didn't have we found on Craigslist for really short dollars. The "coop portion" is 8 x 12, and then I added a second story, that looks out into the conservation land behind us, which is 12 x 12. Total out of pocket was less than $500.

The ceramic tiles were a closeout, so I think it was $20, and it just seemed like it would be easier to clean and sanitize when needed. The heating film was also left over from our home renovation, so we know it works, it's just the least amount we felt would work ( like a 100 watt light bulb ) just spread out over a larger surface area.

It the end because of the insulation, and the heat that the chickens generate themselves, we might not need it, but it's there in case...and it relieved the anxiety of the wife...priceless.

The chickens are coming in this week!

 

[SarniaTricia]

...and it relieved the anxiety of the wife...priceless.

And that is exactly why you get a heater for the chooks .... worth every penny.

"happy wife, happy life"

 

[jbirds2012]

 

[weimarmama]

& from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard.

 

[Big A Chickens]

Hi and

So glad you joined us!!!