Permanent WATER to coop. Now how do I protect it from freezing???

[UtahLisa]

Question: I see red pipes and blue pipes... are they Hot and Cold water?

Recommendation: Have outlets in the coop and at least one outside near where the pipes come up out of the ground, if possible. That way IF anything freezes, you could plug a hair dryer in pretty easy to heat your pipes. If they have heat tape and insulation, you may not have any problems but IF you do, the outlets would be handy. I keep an old hair dryer in the barn all of the time for "just in case" - that way I won't burn out my good one if I should need to thaw pipes

I kind of lost my mind with this project and, yes, I have electricity to the whole area as well. I have also installed smart outlets and a google assistant. That way I can voice activate the lights, turn them off and on from inside my house and elsewhere...as well as setting up specific scenes to each outlet. This allows me to program the heat lamps (when we had 4 chicks). It automatically turned on and off with the electric programmed thermostat. The lights are set as well to turn on and off as specific time (that is controlled and easily access with my iPhone). I also can broadcast into my house from my coop if I need my kids help with something or just stream my Pandora when I'm cleaning. Makes "poop time Cleanup" go faster and easier. I have to admit I think my girls are partial to Ed Sheran due to my streaming.

 

[Kat2141]

I kind of lost my mind with this project and, yes, I have electricity to the whole area as well. I have also installed smart outlets and a google assistant. That way I can voice activate the lights, turn them off and on from inside my house and elsewhere...as well as setting up specific scenes to each outlet. This allows me to program the heat lamps (when we had 4 chicks). It automatically turned on and off with the electric programmed thermostat. The lights are set as well to turn on and off as specific time (that is controlled and easily access with my iPhone). I also can broadcast into my house from my coop if I need my kids help with something or just stream my Pandora when I'm cleaning. Makes "poop time Cleanup" go faster and easier. I have to admit I think my girls are partial to Ed Sheran due to my streaming.

Wow, you have gone all out. The small tank heater for your hot water is a great idea. We have one that is "on-demand" that is propane and portable, but we only use it rarely... vet visit or bathing horses, etc. Sounds like all you need now are cameras to watch "chick tv" as my hubby calls it and an automatic door to the run... I have a camera (so I know when they are all in for the night) ... the automatic door would be cool but I'd be so afraid of it locking somebody out at night... would be nice in the morning tho.