Gah! Frozen locks!

[Uzuri]

So it poured last night, then promptly dropped below freezing. I woke up to every latch and lock on the coop frozen solid!

Well, the latches were easy to knock open with a hammer, but I can think of a lot of things I'd rather be doing than standing in the cold, alternately breathing on a lock and holding my ungloved hand over the keyhole.

What do folks here do to keep ice out of their locks? Today I was lucky. If we ever get a serious ice storm, I may be in trouble.

 

[jjthink]

Brrrr! Where are you?
When you hear weather like that is coming, maybe you could somehow cover the locks for the night?
JJ

 

[patandchickens]

They make outdoor locks that have a little rubber flap that covers the keyhole.

Or you could just get a little squirty bottle of lock deicer from the auto supplies department of your favorite store.

I expect just rubberbanding a baggie over the lock would work in a pinch, too.

Good luck, have "fun"

,

Pat

 

[Uzuri]

Ohio, jjthink -- and it's totally unfair! It was just in the 70s!

I wondered if baggies might not do the trick, pat. I think when it's due to happen again (hopefully not until fall!) I'll bag the locks and flip them upside down so the open part of the bag is on the bottom and see what happens.

 

[sgtmom52]

You could spray a little WD40 into the lock on a regular basis to keep it lubed.

 

[Uzuri]

Don't think that'll keep the ice out -- but thanks for the reminder, they're due to be oiled anyway!

 

[musson]

wd40 is actually a water repellent

 

[catsmithpuddin]

seran wrap is cheaper and easier than baggies and just wrap it and it comes off real easy.

And yes a squirt of wd will help your situation. Just hit it if you think the rain is coming and you would be surprised.

 

[95yj]

what kind of a lock, is it actualy like a real lock with a key? Around here every body uses big latches that can be held closed with a screw driver, those are easy to break open. Or use a blow torch to melt the ice, during the winter i keep one near the coop, also works on metal waterers.

 

[sksmass]

I use a blowtorch to heat the lock and the water drips right out. A match right under the keyhole would probably work too. You don't need much heat to melt the water.