Need advise on self sustaining coop

[monkey666666]

Hello! My husband and I are building a new chicken coop and we are trying to make it as much off grid as possible. Two things we need…solar powered lights (I know there are a ton out there on Amazon but would love links to ones that you’ve had success with). And watering system…we plan to use a rain barrel. But we live in the northeast where we have freezing winters. How do you keep your rain barrel watering systems from freezing during the winters? Need ideas please. I’d rather not run electricity out there if I can help it, so solar solutions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[cavemanrich]

Solar powered lights,,, yes they are possible. I don't use much except one motion activated garden light. So no recommendations.
Solar powered, and heaters, really don't belong in same sentence.
Let me explain;
Yes, you can set up a system with solar collectors,, and storage batteries. Problem here,,,, is you need a good size setup. That tran$late$ to high co$t inve$tment.
Lets hear what others have in their ideas, and setups.
I'm into lowest cost and easiest solutions.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[gtaus]

And watering system…we plan to use a rain barrel. But we live in the northeast where we have freezing winters. How do you keep your rain barrel watering systems from freezing during the winters? Need ideas please. I’d rather not run electricity out there if I can help it, so solar solutions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I just don't see solar and water heating going well together. I live in northern Minnesota and use a metal heater base for my metal water fount. We pay $0.12 per kilowatt hour for electricity. Assuming that base heater is running 24/7 for about 4 months, it would cost me $34.56 for the dead of winter. That's less that 3 cents per day IF the heater is running 24/7. It's well worth it to me to have fresh water available to my 10+ chickens in the coop.

Of course, my heater has a built-in thermostat which only turns on when the temperature drops to about 40F and turns itself off at around 45F. So, before and after the coldest part of winter, that heater might only turn on a few hours over night.

You don't need the heaviest extension cord to run a 100 watt heater base. I bought a 100-foot 16/3 outdoor extension cord at Menards for around $25.00. It has lasted me 4 winters and is still working fine. I just run it on top of the lawn out to the chicken coop, letting it get rained and snowed on all the time. It is plugged into a GFCI outlet on the house. I have not tripped the GFCI in 4 winters of use.

You can certainly run LED lights off solar, but I just don't see a solar system running a water heater for chickens 24/7 unless you had a really big, and expensive, solar setup.

Metal base heater at Amazon...
Metal water fount 3 gallon at Amazon...

Where I live, most people have metal base heaters and metal water founts setups. It just works for us. My 3-gallon water fount last about 10 days for 10 chickens before I have to refill it.

I would be happy to hear if anyone has been able to use solar to heat water and how much it cost them. For now, I would just recommend buying an outdoor extension cord as the less expensive and more reliable option.

When you get to the point of costing out your options, here is the math on my plug in water heater system...

*****************
Let's calculate the cost to run a 100-watt heater continuously for 4 months at $0.12 per kilowatt-hour (kWh):

1. Convert watts to kilowatts:
   • 100 watts ÷ 1,000 = 0.1 kilowatts.
2. Calculate total hours for 4 months:
   • 4 months ≈ 30 days/month × 4 = 120 days.
   • Total hours = 120 days × 24 hours/day = 2,880 hours.
3. Total energy consumption:
   • 0.1 kilowatts × 2,880 hours = 288 kWh.
4. Cost of electricity:
   • 288 kWh × $0.12/kWh = $34.56.

So, it would cost $34.56 to run the 100-watt heater 24/7 for 4 months at $0.12 per kWh.

*******************

 

[HenHangout]

Maybe use black PVC pipe or black tubing to catch the sun's heat? A solar powered heater isn't feasible, but perhaps a small solar powered water pump that cycles the water between the PVC sun catcher and an insulated storage tank every 30 minutes?

I use corrugated pond tubing as a cheap way to direct rain water from gutters to a single point, but to prevent it from freezing, I do run a power cord to the coop to keep a bird bath heater running. I don't ever have to give my chickens water but I do have to scrub away algae every few months. Right now I am seeing whether or not pieces of copper will reduce or prevent algae growth.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

Exciting stuff! Here are my recommendations. I am not sure where you live, but where I live gets very cold in winter, and very hot and humid in the summer.

For cooling in summer - along with good ventilation in the coop, I have a small solar powered fan (this one) near the roost to help pull out warmer air in the summer (and a small vent near the lower part of the coop so cool air gets pulled in. It’s been working great for three years - I only turn it on when it’s very hot afternoon/evenings.

For heating water - I have not been able to do this off grid. You could set up a couple large solar panels or a rechargeable battery kit (you’d have enough power with these) to get enough power to run the heated dish that I use (this one). i like the dish as it only kicks on with it’s below freezing. but the upfront cost for big panels is higher. Is the coop very far away?

As for lights - like others have mentioned, don’t leave lights on all the time. You may want a motion activated light for predators (I use this one) but not sure your living situation or where the coop is. Be mind of shining at neighbours windows if you have neighbours.

 

[gtaus]

Maybe use black PVC pipe or black tubing to catch the sun's heat? A solar powered heater isn't feasible, but perhaps a small solar powered water pump that cycles the water between the PVC sun catcher and an insulated storage tank every 30 minutes?

I use corrugated pond tubing as a cheap way to direct rain water from gutters to a single point, but to prevent it from freezing, I do run a power cord to the coop to keep a bird bath heater running. I don't ever have to give my chickens water but I do have to scrub away algae every few months. Right now I am seeing whether or not pieces of copper will reduce or prevent algae growth.

Those are some interesting ideas. However, black pipe or not, I don't imagine that would prevent the water from freezing where I live when it gets -30F in the dead of winter.

OP states they live in the northeast. Just wondering where you live and if you could update your member icon with your geographic location. That helps all of us better understand your answers and what may, or may not, work for us as well. For example, my winter setup in northern Minnesota is going to be a lot different than our friends who live in Florida.

I really did like the idea of the rainwater gutters and insulated storage tank. That sounds like a great idea for many people. I have a couple of water storage tanks out by my garden, but I have to drain them every fall or they will freeze solid and crack. I think your system would work great for lots of people who are not as far north as I am.

 

[MROO]

Hello! My husband and I are building a new chicken coop and we are trying to make it as much off grid as possible. Two things we need…solar powered lights (I know there are a ton out there on Amazon but would love links to ones that you’ve had success with). And watering system…we plan to use a rain barrel. But we live in the northeast where we have freezing winters. How do you keep your rain barrel watering systems from freezing during the winters? Need ideas please. I’d rather not run electricity out there if I can help it, so solar solutions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Solar lights are cheap and easy - I actually keep a flower pot full of Dollar-Store solar spikes - one on my patio and one at the coop. They're not only handy when I have to go into the coop at night, but Game Night by Lantern Light is now a tradition during our frequent summer-storm outages!

Solar water heaters are another matter entirely. A small solar-powered fountain, like the ones used in bird-baths, will keep the water moving, making it less likely to freeze. Setting one into a "hog pan" - a shallow, black rubber feeding tub - to hold heat works fine for short (overnight) temperature drops, but the fountain will freeze up (and burn out) if the temps stay low. So, unless, you're willing to haul water during extended cold snaps, you'll likely need electricity, at least short-term.

Good Luck!

 

[HenHangout]

OP states they live in the northeast. Just wondering where you live and if you could update your member icon with your geographic location.

Updated

I really did like the idea of the rainwater gutters and insulated storage tank. That sounds like a great idea for many people. I have a couple of water storage tanks out by my garden, but I have to drain them every fall or they will freeze solid and crack. I think your system would work great for lots of people who are not as far north as I am.

Thanks. I use a 27 quart Sterilite storage bin found at walmart for $7.30. I put in 3 water nipples at the base of one side, and tapped holes in the lid and using bulkhead fittings and hose clamps, secured the corrugated tubing to both the lid and gutters. At the very top of the bin (not the lid) I put in another hole with fittings for a tube to direct overflow to the landscape's natural drainage path

 

[elusvbtrfly]

Maybe use black PVC pipe or black tubing to catch the sun's heat? A solar powered heater isn't feasible, but perhaps a small solar powered water pump that cycles the water between the PVC sun catcher and an insulated storage tank every 30 minutes?

I use corrugated pond tubing as a cheap way to direct rain water from gutters to a single point, but to prevent it from freezing, I do run a power cord to the coop to keep a bird bath heater running. I don't ever have to give my chickens water but I do have to scrub away algae every few months. Right now I am seeing whether or not pieces of copper will reduce or prevent algae growth.

Have you tried running the water through a tub of pea gravel with plants in it (hostas work nice and come back after winter)? The roots of the plants take care of algae problem.