Consolidated Kansas

[Naughty]

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Do these heaters get warm enough to start a fire if laid in an area with straw though? I rake the straw up every evening - and they spread it out every day ....

On the upside - I should have some amazing compost this spring!

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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Thanks for the link. I wanted to buy some but had not researched yet.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Oh lordy i think im gonna like this free labor thing. I went to pick up my son this morning, on the way home I got a call from the parents of those two boys wanting to know if i had any work for them YES I DO i said. Told them they could shovel the snow out of my yard so the ducks and chickens could get out of the pen. Here is what o seen when i got home.

am o cruel or what dam me......... Mmmmmmuuuuhhhhhhhhaaa!!!!

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

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Not cruel enough, need to make him use a smaller shovel. Hey you need to talk to who ever built that stuff in photo, it all leaning.

 

[averytds]

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Do these heaters get warm enough to start a fire if laid in an area with straw though? I rake the straw up every evening - and they spread it out every day ....

On the upside - I should have some amazing compost this spring!

I think it depends on your design. Lots of things effect how hot the outside gets...size of tin, style, wattage and mounting of bulb, thermostat....

Mine only puts out heat from the top. I used a popcorn tin, mounted the bulb in the center bottom and used a thermostat. I did put a square metal plate underneath for a good base, but I don't think it's really necessary for fire protection. The sides/ bottom don't get even warm before the thermostat kicks the light off. So the only part that gets warm is the top which is covered completely by the waterer. The waterer is weighted and secured to the side of the coop. Think cheap lampshade. It doesn't burn up because there's enough distance from the bulb on the sides and all the heat goes out through the open top.

Several people are using them also for warmers in their coops right on shavings. My guess is that they are using small wattage bulbs and big enough tins that their outsides are just barely warming.

Test it out inside first and see where it heats up and just how hot. That's what I did.

There's some details lacking in this guys vids, but he has some great ideas. I'm thinking of making one of his brooder warmers. Plenty of experience with broodies and their chicks outside in cooler weather and I know he's right. No reason to have all the heat and light, just need a warm place to snuggle when needed. http://cmfarm.us/cookietin.html

 

[Ivywoods]

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Do these heaters get warm enough to start a fire if laid in an area with straw though? I rake the straw up every evening - and they spread it out every day ....

On the upside - I should have some amazing compost this spring!

That would be difficult to say because there are so many different ways to build them. I would not be comfortable setting them directly on the straw, hay or havings. I put my heated water bowls on a cement block which gets it up out of the clippings about 8".

 

[averytds]

Yep Ivy, so many variations that can change everything.


I'm probably going to leave mine and just unplug this Summer, but 2 things I will be adding are a hole in the side with tape over it (so I can see if the lights working and reclaim my thermometer) and a Thermocube when the feed store marks them down this Spring. With the Thermocube and thermostat, I'll be sure it's only working when absolutely necessary.

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Daren I just want to share some of the sappy in me here. I hope that you will make this a win win situation for these kids. Become their friend and thank them for the work they do. Tell them how cool your chickens are. Maybe they will some day join the ranks of chicken raisers. Their parents invested in your leadership to correct this situation. You could help make America a better place. This may just be your oppurtunity to save lives! Well ok thats just my thoughts and a goal I would set for my self. On the other hand I know your birds will appriciate the bare ground to walk on.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

As i was taking the pics he looks at me with his lil teen age thousand yard stare and says " Seriously"
Thought it was kinda funny how karma is kickin his ass............hahahahahaha

 

[Ivywoods]

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I TOTALLY agree with this. Sometimes all it takes is one good mentor to get a kid on the right track. It looks like they did a lot of work there on that snow. Let them know you appreciate it. Don't make it sound like their original offense is "no big deal. It still is. They were misguided (or "unguided") and made a mistake and are now paying for it, but if handled correctly it can be a very positive thing for these kids.

Good luck!