electricity

[gotpoodle]

Just wondering if most people have electricity in the coop? (especially in areas that have cold winters)
I have my coop all planned out but with no electricity; I don't have an outdoor house outlet anywhere near where I want my coop.
Will I regret not having it this winter??

Looking for an informal poll...who has electricity and who doesn't?

 

[kezabel]

No electricity here. I'm in Australia and Its winter here now but the coldest its been in about 6 degrees Celcuis(thats at night) and the chicken seem fine.

I just seen the electricity metre guy Grrrr You know the person who reads the electricity metre box. Oh well guess I'll have a huge bill next week, I've had the heater pumping for days. My house is a cold one.

 

[YankeeRider]

Not yet-but I will. (New coop, first year, etc.) My neighbor two doors up the road (lotsa chickens where I live) strongly recommended it to power a heater to keep their drinking water in liquid form.

Jerry

 

[3goodeggs]

We have water and electricity in our new coop. I was wondering today when the husband would put in a septic tank. He's getting a bit over the top. But, even though we won't need heat here, we do need to see when it's dark.
Would an all weather extention cord do the trick for you?
We have heavy chickens. I expect them to stay warm enough. Our problem is keeping them cool. They have had a fan and a mister on them for most of the summer.
If you have time and resources, go for it. It will always come in handy.

 

[SpunkyTheMonkey]

i have electricity. our temps can go (worst case) from -10C to 40C so fans and heaters are essential for us.

don't forget to plan for the extremes rather than what you normally get. you may not have time to deal with it when it happens later.

 

[unionwirewoman]

We get temps here in the winters ranging from -35 to 40 degrees F . We have electricity out to our coops (seen too much frostbite and frozen waterers without having a heat lamp ) . We ran ours underground uf wire.....extension cords can be a fire waiting to happen especially if it's a #16 with too much load and a long run .
Wish I was over where you live...I'd fix your coop up ! Trying not to tell everyone all of the no-no's , but it's hard since electrical is my job ( at least when I get back to work !) . How old is your house ? By code you should have them outside , unless it's grandfathered in .Hence knob and tube wiring still existing ! Call around ....it shouldn't cost too much to get an outlet installed outside ( if you're going to use an extension cord ) or if your coop isn't too far away , dig the ditch yourself and wire the coop yourself....just have the liscensed electrician run the wires out of the nearest box that's hot , through the ditch .

ps....the wires will only be hot when you flip the breaker on !

 

[Mahonri]

AC unit is on at present... I'll go out in a bit and shut it off. Problem is, it's still 100 degrees out there at 10:30PM

 

[unionwirewoman]

Ugghhh....Mahroni...don't remind me of Phoenix temps !! I lived there for a little over a year going to college . Worked on the runway at the airport unloading parcel planes . Did you know when it's 115 out it's actually 135 or more on asphalt ? You can keep it ! As I always say...you can always put more clothes on to keep warm....but there's only so much you can take off to keep cool !!

 

[Monk]

I have electric in the coop, it's for waterer heater, light, and a fan. The temps here can be chilly too, but no heat. We had -32°, it's lowest I have experienced, no problems.

 

[Chicksdigit]

I have electricity for lights and for a fan right now ....... During July and August then when it drops into the low 90's all will be good here in North Texas This over 100 degree stuff is hard on everyone .....you know it is hot when the fish start panting.