Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[JackE]

I built a cookie tin fount warmer five yrs ago, and it will be put back into use again this winter. For the most part, I use a 40W bulb. But, I have found when the temp gets to 0 F, It needs a 60W bulb to do the job. The tin never gets hot enough to even think about starting a fire. You can at any time, place your hand flat on it. Unless you dunk this thing under water, you have nothing to worry about. The bulb is safely enclosed in a tin can, water splashed on it won't do anything, unless you had no idea what you were doing when you built it, and have the electricity shorted to the tin. I used a old piece of romex (12AWG), for the electric supply cord. Chickens don't have teeth, they are no threat to that cord, or even a regular extension cord. Mice could be a threat, and if you have them, just run the wire through conduit. We are not talking rocket science here.

I say this, I trust my $5 cookie tin heater waaaaay more, than I would trust that near $60 RedChinese engineered piece of junk they sell in T/S. You don't know when that thing will crap out, and it will, and you are out $60. The bulb burns out in the cookie tin, in goes another cheap 40W bulb, and it's back in business.

 

[henless]

I used my cookie tin water heater last year. It worked great! I don't have lots of snow nor do we get down to or below zero. I plan on making 2 more this year for my other two coops. I put my 5 gallon bucket with horizontal nipples and it works like a charm.

 

[NTBugtraq]

Does anyone have recommendations on weather stripping? I'm looking for L-shaped stripping that I can tack the short side to the side of the doors and windows with the long side of the stripping overlapping the coop wall when the door/window is closed, to stop drafts. My husband tried to use the foam insulation spray that doesn't expand, but then we had to cut it to open the doors and window.

Look for the rubber they sell as replacements for the bottom of garage doors. But honestly, my doors are all 2" bigger than the openings and I don't give a thought to how tightly they seal. Again, draft versus wind...a little draft is no issue.

 

[cricketmt]

Look for the rubber they sell as replacements for the bottom of garage doors. But honestly, my doors are all 2" bigger than the openings and I don't give a thought to how tightly they seal. Again, draft versus wind...a little draft is no issue.

Thank yoU!, I was actually just browsing those, great idea!

 

[sylviecolin]

this is our coop winterized in quebec canada. this was our car tent we added to the coop to give them more room to run around in winter. we insulated the shed and reinforced it.

 

[cicknmama]

This is our 8x10 coop and 8x16 run under construction. It is almost complete now, just need to add the door. We are in a race against the weather to get it done. I have purchased a 100ft roll of 6mil plastic sheeting and am in the process of attaching it to the hardcloth walls. I got the great idea here on BYC to use duct tape around the edges of the plastic, punch holes with a hole punch and use zip ties to mount it. I then used duct tape around the perimeter to seal the edges so the wind doesn't catch the edges. It already warms the run and I'm not quite finished. I'm electing to refrain from heat in the coop and I'm hoping the will at least venture into the run on very cold days. Also not wanting to put water in the coop due to moisture build up. We will see how it goes as the winter builds. I will have more pictures soon if anyone would like to see the completed run?

 

[cicknmama]

I built a cookie tin fount warmer five yrs ago, and it will be put back into use again this winter.  For the most part, I use a 40W bulb.  But, I have found when the temp gets to 0 F, It needs a 60W bulb to do the job. The tin never gets hot enough to even think about starting a fire. You can at any time, place your hand flat on it.   Unless you dunk this thing under water, you have nothing to worry about.  The bulb is safely enclosed in a tin can,  water splashed on it won't do anything, unless you had no idea what you were doing when you built it, and have the electricity shorted to the tin.  I used a old piece of romex (12AWG), for the electric supply cord.  Chickens don't have teeth, they are no threat to that cord, or even a regular extension cord.  Mice could be a threat, and if you have them, just run the wire through conduit.  We are not talking rocket science here. 

I say this, I trust my $5 cookie tin heater waaaaay more, than I would trust that near $60 RedChinese engineered piece of junk they sell in T/S.  You don't know when that thing will crap out, and it will, and you are out $60.  The bulb burns out in the cookie tin, in goes another cheap 40W bulb, and it's back in business. 

I built one last year and it worked great! My only problem was, I had it on the dirt floor and the mice burrowed under it to keep warm. They set up house in the run and feasted on the feed at night while my chickens were sleeping. So now I have a bucket waterer with nipples and its hanging from the roof joist. I put a bucket warmer in it, but will see if that keeps the nipples from freezing or not.

 

[Goronson Chicks]

This is our 8x10 coop and 8x16 run under construction. It is almost complete now, just need to add the door. We are in a race against the weather to get it done. I have purchased a 100ft roll of 6mil plastic sheeting and am in the process of attaching it to the hardcloth walls. I got the great idea here on BYC to use duct tape around the edges of the plastic, punch holes with a hole punch and use zip ties to mount it. I then used duct tape around the perimeter to seal the edges so the wind doesn't catch the edges. It already warms the run and I'm not quite finished. I'm electing to refrain from heat in the coop and I'm hoping the will at least venture into the run on very cold days. Also not wanting to put water in the coop due to moisture build up. We will see how it goes as the winter builds. I will have more pictures soon if anyone would like to see the completed run?

 

[Goronson Chicks]

That's a beautiful house and run. Yes please post more photos when you're done and I'll send you photos of ours.

 

[JackE]

I built one last year and it worked great! My only problem was, I had it on the dirt floor and the mice burrowed under it to keep warm. They set up house in the run and feasted on the feed at night while my chickens were sleeping. So now I have a bucket waterer with nipples and its hanging from the roof joist. I put a bucket warmer in it, but will see if that keeps the nipples from freezing or not.

My tin is up on a couple of concrete pavers. Mice can't get under that.