Frozen eggs

[kristenm1975]

We're having a rare cold snap here in the Puget Sound area and my hens have finally just begun laying again, but now when I go out to collect them, I find them all frozen.

I am gone 15 hours out of the day and don't have any way to collect them during that time. Is there any down-home, non-gadget method of preventing this? I only say non-gadget because I don't have any extra cash to throw at this problem and need a cheap or better yet free solution.

Any ideas welcome!

 

[katrinag]

All I can tell you is to make sure your coop is draft free and well insulated.

 

[johnmayersquare]

Quote:
I live over in Port Orchard(near Bremerton) and am having the same issue, except that I just keep having to go out more often and checking for eggs......but last night we had two that cracked and were frozen.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I can't think of anything other than keeping the nest boxes (and probably the whole coop) above freezing. There are thermostat plugs that kick on at 35F and turn off at 45F, so you could plug in a couple of heat lamps on the nests.

 

[moenmitz]

What about putting a heat lamp over the nest box (far enough away to not be a fire hazard that is. Course, then you may have chickies fighting over who gets to sleep in there....

 

[Guitartists]

I find that as long as I don't leave them in overnight that they don't freeze... try collecting later in the afternoon once all laying is done.

 

[kristenm1975]

Thanks for all the tips folks! I think the only one that's going to work right away for me is to make sure I gather them as soon as I get home. I remembered that I hadn't gathered them last night so I'll just make sure I do that tonight.

 

[chookchick]

Do you have some neighbor kid who could collect the eggs after he gets home from school? My son does this and gets a big kick out of it, plus the eggs are not frozen yet.

 

[skeeter]

i just brought in some frozen eggs also,been too cold below zero right now i think here in E oregon

 

[Mr. Frizzles Hen House]

I'm in this freezing cold snap of WA too over hear in Seabeck. My coop is not insulated and my eggs haven't frozen yet. I check in the am when I open the door to their pen and then again in the late afternoon close to roosting time. Water on the other hand is a pain in the rear. I had to get another waterer because the top froze shut on me. Those things are not cheap.