Heater or heat panel -10

[Rangergord]

I too use a heater in my coop. It is an oil filled radiating heater hanging in the middle of the coop, not designed for chickens, but works very safely. It sits on a concrete block and is suspended from the ceiling also to prevent tip overs. It is not intended to heat the whole coop, it can't and won't. It is intended to give them a place to come and warm up when needed. My temperatures don't go as cold as many of yours, but still I find my chickens on the low perches I placed around that heater on cold days. A few have chosen to sleep there on occasion. I do not have electricity in my coop, I run an 100 foot outdoor extension cord to the coop for the heater. I can reach right outside my front door and plug it in when temps drop to freezing and unplug just as easily when temps rise again. Our temps swing wildly so this was important to me. ( we had 11 degrees 4 days ago and its 60 degrees now) Cost of this heater is 50 dollars, longevity 3 years, have not noticed any jump in my electric bill so can't factor that in, but peace of mind is priceless. The way I see it, if I can offer something so inexpensive and safe to keep them more comfortable and free of frostbite, why wouldn't I? It's also a wonderful place to warm my freezing fingers when tending the chickens on those bitterly cold days. : )

I am in the same boat with an extension cord. A big reason to be conservative with just how much heat you employ. A standard 1500 watt heater is a lot of amps that can easily overheat your wiring and cause a fire. Currently (get it? ) I am drawing 270 watts for heat, light and water de-icing.

 

[Three Stents]

The discussion will do a 180 when the hot summer gets here.

 

[Ted Brown]

“Anti heat" (NOT!) guy here.

Thinking an infra red heater? Concerned about electrical consumption so 1500watt radiant seems out of the question. Will look more closely at the Cosy Coop, believe it is 250 watt?

I have 110V on 15amp breaker and 14 2 underground cable. Lights and water heaters only.

 

[Three Stents]

“Anti heat" (NOT!) guy here.

Thinking an infra red heater? Concerned about electrical consumption so 1500watt radiant seems out of the question. Will look more closely at the Cosy Coop, believe it is 250 watt?

I have 110V on 15amp breaker and 14 2 underground cable. Lights and water heaters only.

well you were, glad you finally are seeing the light

 

[Ted Brown]

@Three Stents With respect, a bit arrogant on your part.

I do my research. I have a coop that is known to be the best for chickens in very cold climates, have cold tolerant birds (Chanteclers) bred 100 miles from me, have a coop and roofed run capable of accommodating 40 birds and keep 25-30, have kept them in down to -30C degree weather for 6 years with nothing but a few frost bitten combs. I have also made mistakes and have suffered predator killings.

I also have an open mind and am willing to do better.

You are a newbie living in a very forgiving climate (I lived and worked in San Francisco for 4 years) yet you feel you have the knowledge and experience to TELL folks who live in hostile climates what to do.

I think not!!

 

[Echelontheory101]

“Anti heat" (NOT!) guy here.

Thinking an infra red heater? Concerned about electrical consumption so 1500watt radiant seems out of the question. Will look more closely at the Cosy Coop, believe it is 250 watt?

I have 110V on 15amp breaker and 14 2 underground cable. Lights and water heaters only.

Yes the Cozy Coop ones are 200W! I have 3 plugged into a 120 volt waterproof surge protector as well as their rent-a-coop waterer heat belt it keeps their water bucket from freezing that only draws 20 watts so all in I'm 620 Watts and probably around 6 amps and I use a 150 ft 12 guage Outdoor Waterproof, 15Amp 1875W ETL listed extension cord. And for that I'm well under 50% on the wattage and amperage load for the cord so I don't have to worry about voltage dropping much or malfunctions at the outlet in the garage. I'd say as long as you're under 80% of your wattage and amperage load you're good for continuous use and then for occasional use you can go right up to the load that your stuff is rated for but if you're going to leave it on all the time when it's cold like I do I would recommend just staying under 80% of your total load! I also have a temperature controller at the plug so mine only sends power through the cord when the temperature drops below 32°, which for where I live is pretty much 24/7 the entire winter but it does turn off if it gets above 32 out

 

[Ted Brown]

@Echelontheory101

Just the feedback I was looking for!!! Thank you very much.

 

[Debbie292d]

I also have a temperature controller at the plug

AKA Thermo Cube. We have the name-brand ones and some less expensive ones, too, we recently bought. The only thing I have against these later-purchased ones is that they shut off at 50°F, and the Thermo Cube ones shut off at 45°F. Not a big deal for just one of them, but we've got several.

 

[dirkandlorie]

I am in the same boat with an extension cord. A big reason to be conservative with just how much heat you employ. A standard 1500 watt heater is a lot of amps that can easily overheat your wiring and cause a fire. Currently (get it? ) I am drawing 270 watts for heat, light and water de-icing.

Thanks, but I use an 8 gauge outdoor fire resistant (self extinguishing cover I think its called) extension cord with 20 amp plugs, not the cheap 16/3. Luckily I know an electrician who told me exactly what to use so there was no danger. Sure wouldn't have known there was a difference in extension cords without him!
Edited to add that while I haven't noticed an increase in my electric bill, it would seem to me that 270 watts surely must cost less to run than my 1500 watts. Is that right? I've run my system for decades now, but if there's something better or cheaper that works just as well, I can change.

 

[Ted Brown]

AKA Thermo Cube. We have the name-brand ones and some less expensive ones, too, we recently bought. The only thing I have against these later-purchased ones is that they shut off at 50°F, and the Thermo Cube ones shut off at 45°F. Not a big deal for just one of them, but we've got several.

This for those of us who care about energy consumption I believe?