Heated Perches

[Kernel Sanders]

Hi, I'm new here but thought I'd throw my two cents into the coop. I also saw the Confederate Farm video about the X-Mas lights inside the PVC pipe. I thought it was a neat idea as well. The same guy posted a later video showing the pipe with melted holes in it where his lights shorted out and almost caught fire. I think the larger type lights created enough heat to melt the wires of the light strand creating the short circut. I experimented with the same set up except I used mini lights and a smaller diameter black plastic pipe. I left it plugged in for a few hours and the pipe got warm enough to 'feel good' but never got warm enough to be concerned about melting the wires inside. My only complaint was trying to get all of the lights into and through the pipe, so I had another thought.... I'm going to try a section of plastic rain gutter mounted upside down on a 2X4 to get that flat surface everyone is talking about. I'm going to try a strand of mini lights inside it, and then try a length of heated pipe tape for a comparison. Both will be plugged into my Thermo-cube I found at Tractor Supply Co. so they will only come on when it's near freezing. I hope to post some results on this forum asap in case anyone is interested.

 

[Hokum Coco]

In Canada I am subject to -40º cold snaps. I do NOT heat my coop. Murphy's law says my birds will find out what -40 is all about when my hydro goes out. Regardless what you decide feed extra Corn over the winter you will not be sorry.

Or something like this may help also; You could even knit a hoodie for those extra cold days..

 

[Kernel Sanders]

.... Well, that's an idea I haven't thought of. Gotta admit, they are cute outfits. Looks like they tolerate wearing them pretty well. My idea on the heated perch using smaller lights inside the PVC pipe to avoid melting the wires didn't pan out as well as I'd hoped. The pipe felt warm when tested with the small lights .... but that was indoors. When I tried it out in the coop, the pipe didn't feel very warm at all due to the already cold temps outside. My chickens still used it as a perch, but I felt the intended purpose was defeated. Back to the drawing board.

 

[joan1708]

I wrapped my hen's roost in cardboard to make it a little warmer. I got the idea from the news of the inauguration when they interviewed people standing on cardboard to keep their feet warmer. If it works for people, why can't it work for chickens?

 

[Bert2368]

My idea on the heated perch using smaller lights inside the PVC pipe to avoid melting the wires didn't pan out as well as I'd hoped. The pipe felt warm when tested with the small lights .... but that was indoors. When I tried it out in the coop, the pipe didn't feel very warm at all

The first idea with the larger Xmas tree lights was too much- melting the plastic and potentially starting a fire.

The smaller lights apparently don't have enough output to do what you wanted-

There is a product that might work for your application, it's a self regulating heat tape made for pipes and roof ice dam prevention. No thermostat, it expands and develops higher resistance, cutting down power output when warm, and contracts, reducing resistance to increase power output when cold. It won't melt anything but ice, and doesn't waste as much power as other types of heat tapes do.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/231115878007