how to keep eggs from freezing in nesting box!?

[RonP]

It is in the negative temps here at night and only single digits if we are lucky during the day. Its FREEZING HERE! Hopefully this mat idea will help take the edge off and allow me to keep some eggs!

We will rarely see single digit daytime temps...

I'm not complaining

 

[yooper coop]

Leanna, mine were about that. I had to close all the drafts to the coop, and put a light on a twelve hour timer. Also I had to turn a heat lamp on. Now the slash two days I'm getting 5 eggs a day. Only one on the floor frozen and cracked today. Barred rocks, buff orpingtons and one amauricana. And a big ol blue copper Moran rooster.

 

[yooper coop]

It's 1 degree farenhight at two in the afternoon. Here in the central u.p. supposed to warm up this weekend a little.

 

[lazy gardener]

My girls take a vote every morning and decide which nest box to use. For the most part, they all lay in the same box, which keeps the first eggs laid warm a bit longer. There are a few rebels who don't follow the vote. BTW, I hate winter.

 

[blucoondawg]

Heat lamps are a documented cause of coop fires.

There are much safer ways to keep your water liquid during cold spells.

Heat lamp fire!
Another heat lamp fire!
Yet another issue, and fires!

yes heat lamps can cause fire, so can a waterer heater or an incandescent light bulb or really any electrical connection. I think most all coop electrical fire are caused be negligent use and or wrong type or faulty equipment. We have used heat lamps for years and never had a fire. Here are some things to consider about heat lamps,
1: don't use the clamp type moveable light fixtures unless you have no choice and if you do be sure to screw them on or tie them with wire or zip ties so they cannot fall, and use a decent quality one with a ceramic socket not plastic
2: wire your coop as you would a home or garage, install actual ceramic light fixtures of the type used in utility rooms and basements, screw your lamp or light bulb into this, it is impossible for this setup to fall and burn. I also installed an outlet in the ceiling so I can plug into a timer and a outlet on the wall so I can plug in a waterer heater. I then have a wire coming out the bottom of the coop which I just plug into a quality extension cord, 1 cord runs the entire coop
3: size your heat lamp accordingly, don't put a 250w bulb in a small rabbit hutch type coop it will likely be far too hot for the birds and likely be to close to combustible materials, use a lower wattage bulb where necessary. I have a walk in shed type coop and the light fixture is in the center so the larger bulb works OK. Always keep your heat source a safe distance from combustibles.
Not trying to lecture but a little common sense goes a long way, if done properly heating a coop can be safe.

 

[RonP]

Anything "can" cause a fire if improperly wired, or misused.

Most people on this list do not know building codes, much less build and wire electricity to proper code specifications in their chicken coop...


There are just so many "accidents" caused by heating lamps discussed on this site.

I'm pretty sure none were intentional but devastating nonetheless.


I also have no doubt you blucoondawg have taken the necessary precautions to do it safely.

 

[blucoondawg]

I would be more than happy to answer any questions anyone has as far as proper materials and wire sizing to make a safe setup. I do not know everyone's local building codes in local ordinances but I am familiar with national electric code and how to wire a building safely. As long as you have large enough wire and good tight connections it should be quite safe, there are many resources online explaining simple diy wiring installation as well. I was an electrician for about 10 years I now operate heavy equipment installing electric and gas distribution systems for the power companies

 

[Katz5617]

Wow - I'm just impressed they are laying in temps that cold. I have five chickens all the same age (27 weeks) and only one has begun laying. She has been laying regularly for about a month - an egg a day. We typically have mild winter, but seems someone opened the Arctic door and way down south we had temps in the teens last night. Precious went on strike - no egg today. I figured the cold knocked her off her game - but if yall are still getting eggs in sub zero weather I am a bit disappointed in Precious.

 

[blucoondawg]

Wow - I'm just impressed they are laying in temps that cold. I have five chickens all the same age (27 weeks) and only one has begun laying. She has been laying regularly for about a month - an egg a day. We typically have mild winter, but seems someone opened the Arctic door and way down south we had temps in the teens last night. Precious went on strike - no egg today. I figured the cold knocked her off her game - but if yall are still getting eggs in sub zero weather I am a bit disappointed in Precious.

could be the sudden temperature change could have caused her to stop laying. Temps in the teens shouldn't bother her as far as being too cold my chickens lay like it's July in those temps. I'm sure she will be fine once she gets used to it

 

[RonP]

Stress is one factor that will interrupt a laying hen, but receiving 360 eggs, from any 1 bird in a year is unrealistic.

Hopefully she'll return to laying soon.