Heating with in floor radiant heat?

[SteveK]

Just a follow-up, since I ran across this article just moments ago: http://www.poultryventilation.com/sites/default/files/tips/2011/vol23n2.pdf

In this particular case they're talking about the benefits of a radiant heating system for poultry and the assumption in this case is *ceiling-based* radiant heat. (They talk about "floor radiant heat" only in the sense that a ceiling radiant heat system will definitely warm the floor.)

Personally, I wouldn't use such a high-temperature source for the radiant heat - I'd use a lower temperature source, but more of them to spread out the load. Much safer in my estimation.

Anyway, just wanted to pass along my findings.

 

[CluckCluck2]

I seriously thinking about adding radiant heat to my coop. This is what I will get.
https://www.infrafloor.com/InfraFloorFilm-FloorHeating.php

 

[wyododge]

In floor heat will not get hot enough to produce toxic fumes. so I think you are safe there. I think the bedding issue will be a concern though. wood shavings are an excellent insulator. You might try heating the walls, or creating an open air space with metal ducting and heating that and allowing fresh air gong into the coop to run through it, like a heat exchanger. If the fresh air inlet into the coop were placed low, it would create a convection that would draw warm air through the system and out your roof vents. If your system were limited with a themo cube inside the coop, and you restricted voltage so as to not allow full heat generation, it might work a little better. Lots of options for sure though!!!

 

[chfite]

Considering that radiant hydronic heat works best with a heated mass, it comes to temperature slowly and radiates slowly: heats everything in contact with it, including the air. The heat dissipates slowly, and rises slowly.

The systems that have little mass heat more actively, it seems. The units that are often shown for retrofitting in a bathroom come to mind.

I have radiant hydronic heat in my workshop. It is in the floor of a six inch insulated slab. If I were concerned about what was on the floor, I would consider installing it in the walls, installing a similar mass in the walls. If I were to consider heating a coop, the walls might be the very place to install the mass and heating system.

Nevertheless, the radiant heating experts would be of more help.

Chris

 

[bellancaNest]

Chicken coop becomes weapon of mass destruction? Perhaps he should instruct the chickens on the proper procedures for fitting on a chemical respirator. I think any of us would get sick if we lived in chicken coop. Chicken coop bedding naturally composts and generate heat. However if you install new bedding before cold weather the chickens will be colder. I recommend insulating the floor and walls with ridged foam. Do not seal the coop just keep the walls from conducting heat out. Then buy a radiant chicken coop heater. Perfect for small quantity of chickens. Plug it in to a GFI outlet.

 

[CJohn]

Here are a couple of good examples of in-floor hydronic radiant heat in commercial chicken houses. It works well for them. Though, this is hydronic (water), not electric. It sounds like a very feasible option with good, real life results.
https://www.canadianpoultrymag.com/the-benefits-of-in-floor-heating/
https://www.smallfarmcanada.ca/why-hydronic-heating-for-poultry-barns-can-be-beneficial-for/
Also, there's a lot of information out there on the advantages of using sand as a litter base. It would seem that sand would work well with a radiant floor in that it wouldn't act as an insulator, but a conductor of heat. It would stay drier as a result, keeping the coop safer for the chickens. Due to the drier conditions, the ammonia production would also be kept to a minimum.