Electricity

[DecT]

Any ideas on how to get electricity to my coop, which is 25m away from my house(where the electricity is)MT Dec

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
You are saying 25 meters? What does your local building code say?
Here in Michigan, we dug a trench about 2/3 meter deep, and installed cable from a electrical box to the coop, and had wiring in cable installed there. All code, by a licensed electrician. We are happy, and the farm insurance company is happy.
The cheap temporary fix is an outdoor electric cord to the coop, or maybe solar lights out there with no electric lines running for the house.
Mary

 

[DecT]

Thanks for your reply, just a question, is heating(electricity) necessary in winter or will they survive, I live in the UK.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Thanks for your reply, just a question, is heating(electricity) necessary in winter or will they survive, I live in the UK.

it depends on the temps, but generally chickens are pretty hardy as long as your coop isn’t drafty. The down under their feathers works as an insulation, and when they perch at night they tuck in their feet to keep them warm as well.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I would definitely hire a licenced electrician if you want to run power to your coop.
How cold do your winters usually get? If you have a nice draft free coop with good ventilation, heat isn't always necessary.
But it's SO nice to be able to flip on a light if you need to.

 

[DecT]

I would definitely hire a licenced electrician if you want to run power to your coop.
How cold do your winters usually get? If you have a nice draft free coop with good ventilation, heat isn't always necessary.
But it's SO nice to be able to flip on a light if you need to.

do you know how much that would be(to get an electrician to do that)??

 

[chrissynemetz]

I'm not sure about the UK, but here in the US licensed electricians can be seriously expensive.

 

[DecT]

okay, thanks for your reply

 

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks for your reply, just a question, is heating(electricity) necessary in winter or will they survive, I live in the UK.

Which part of thee UK, Orkney Islands or Sussex? Could be a difference. But then people n the Shetlands got to the Orkneys for the better weather.

Typically chickens can handle temperatures well below freezing as long as they have a well-ventilated area and can get out of a direct wind. What your facilities look like can have an impact. I've seen chickens sleep in trees on nights below -16 C without issues but they were in a pretty sheltered area. Some coops could be more dangerous than those trees.

When I ran electricity to my coop I used a licensed electrician and followed standard building codes. The electrician would not do it any other way and I was very happy about that. That involved a trench, proper cable, and running from breaker box to breaker box. Electricity is very convenient but for thousands of years people that kept chickens where you are did not use it.

 

[Folly's place]

Having electricity is so handy, for lighting, and for heated water in freezing temperatures. Heating the coop is usually not needed though.
Paying an electrician in likely way less expensive than replacing burnt out housing and replacing critters!!!
And if your insurance company has fits because things weren't done right, that's bad too.
Mary