Mini Crock Pot in Coop

[Liamm_1]

My chickens are 14 weeks old, it was 32*F here last night, coldest night I can remember here in N. CA. They were all fine last night without a heat source.
Granted, it's not as cold as 10*F or 0*F, but I wonder why people refuse to pay attention to the wisdom of experienced chicken owners who live in -30*F type areas and provide no heat source and have no problems. Has anyone heard of wild birds popping up dead all over the place in cold areas? No, because they are adaptive animals, with feathers designed to provide warmth in the winter.
I think those that feel a need to provide a heat source, feel that way because they themselves are cold, and project their feelings towards a completely differently designed animal.
Sure, if you think you can provide a heat source that is 100% safe, and don't mind paying the energy bill for it, then go for it, but remember, it's only for your peace of mind, not the chickens safety (this of course assuming the birds are fully feathered in).
The problem is, it seems there are way too many people that are in no way familiar with any type of electrical codes or electrical safety, trying to devise Mickey Mouse style heat set ups, which have a much higher potential for damage then a bit of coldness.
I recall recently a woman on this site who burned her coop, endangered the property and lives of her neighbors, who were the ones that called the Fire Dept. as she was not even home at the time her faulty light rigging caught fire.
Some people need to have some sense slapped into them. Don't be one of those people.

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
You think these are hot? Ever touched a light bulb?

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
Good advise, Thanks!

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
I hear what you are saying I really do and I agree with you that these are animals, we are not talking about not people, I get that they stay warmer than humans, down coat and all, but what about when the mild year suddenly dipped to 10F and you checked your coop and your youngest birds were shivering. You are right though I did add heat partly for me, It is their first half a year of life and I don't want them to stay up from cold all night, But it is for them as well, I am not wanting to advocate heating your coop to 60F all winter! Not at all, I am simply trying to raise healthy trauma free birds. I really do agree with you if people are over heating it is a not good, they can and will adapt, if you let them. In my situation though I am simply protecting them from the first week of winter that has been a record setter in my book.

 

[Bleenie]

My newest Drake is around 3yrs old and was shivering like crazy last night... I broke down and added 2 lights to the coop. He was under the low one within 30 minutes, poor boy. The 2 siblings that I still have(bro & sis to your girls) were also shivering yesterday morning when I went out... they INSISTED on sleeping with the chickens in the pen they were raised in but were much happier when I moved them into the duck house... lotsa straw & i added the regular lights in the afternoon then put in heat lamps after someone got home with them.

I completely revoked their pool privelages though... dummies wouldnt stay out of it even though it was freezing their feathers!

(and these ARE record lows in WA!! I hate the cold.)

Quote:
Yeah I guess i figured it is safer and a light bulb, and I had it handy I cant believe It was nearly 10 degrees here last night, We might be as cold as you if this keeps up. I really was not going to heat it but I checked in the coop and cant stand to see shivering from the 4-5 month olds, Do you think at that age they should have enough feathers? I have a husky mix that doesn't ever realize it is winter, but when he was 4 moths old it would have been different. I have been trying to chub them up, and started feeding chili's.

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
Yeah I guess i figured it is safer and a light bulb, and I had it handy I cant believe It was nearly 10 degrees here last night, We might be as cold as you if this keeps up. I really was not going to heat it but I checked in the coop and cant stand to see shivering from the 4-5 month olds, Do you think at that age they should have enough feathers? I have a husky mix that doesn't ever realize it is winter, but when he was 4 moths old it would have been different. I have been trying to chub them up, and started feeding chili's.


Crazy weather right? Old man winter is mad this year

Can't not help a little one shivering right? It is a bit harsher when your not full grown I think, Their pool froze over 4 inches thick over night, Not sure how they will bathe now..my faucet out side is frozen too! Will they use sand like chickens do? Maybe I will fill the pool with sand. I donno hope spring comes as quick as winter did!

 

[VERN]

If you were gonna use the crock pot I would put some sand in it. But really don't think you need it. If your birds are not feathered out put a crate that is easy for them to get in and out of in the coop. Put some bedding and straw in it. They will find it and use it to huddle up in when it gets too cold.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
All day is not the same as 24/7. A lot of appliances that are designed for many-hours use will fail (at a significant rate anyhow) if left on all the time. The materials are just not designed for such prolonged uninterrupted heating.

Don't things have to get a certain temp before they can combust?

Yes, but demonstrably the wiring and plastic and such inside appliances CAN do that. Or can become damaged enough for things to come undone and start arcing. This is not theory, this is "it actually happens".

Regular light bulbs get over 100 degrees in under a minute, That sounds dangerous.

It's comparable to what your crock pot does. What wattage is it? The overall heat output of any electric appliance is pretty much a function of its wattage, there is not a *lot* of difference in efficiency (% watts converted to heat) between lightbulbs vs other things that heat up. There can be differences in how hot a given part of the appliance gets, but don't be judging that on the basis of how hot the inside of the crock feels to you -- the point is how hot the *element* gets, and it is probably pretty comparable to the lightbulb.

Plus which, again, the big problem with a crockpot is going to be when something goes *wrong*.

Plus the risk of shattered glass, that was my thinking any ways.

That is what a guard is for.

Or if any one with electrical knowledge would chime in.

Oh, you really really don't want to hear electricians' thoughts on the subject of freelancing unusual ways to rig up heating appliances. Really really

Just sayin',

Pat​

 

[Wifezilla]

I ended up putting a 40w bulb over the water container and their dust bath. It kept the water from freezing and the quail could lay in warm sand if they wanted.

 

[swimmer]

I worry more about the heat in the summer time than the cold. They can handle cold temps much better than high temps. Once it gets above 90-95 I feel bad for my birds.
We were down below zero again last night. They were all fine. I worried about their combs, but all was fine. Got some nice eggs early this morning.
Happy Turkey Day!!