Sweeter Heater Vs. Flat panel heater

[kickinchicken]

Quote:
Maybe if you use the sweeter heater with the thermocube.

The thermocube is about $13 and it turns on at 35 degrees and off at 45 degrees. It looks like two outlet plugs side by side. I am going to get this next year once I get an actual electrician to hook up an outlet box that is grounded. This winter I am roughing it and using an extension cord.

 

[3riverschick]

One nice thing about having the heater overhead.... It is close to the roosters' comb. If his comb gets frostbite or freezes, he can be in too much ain to service the girls. That can throw a damper on a breeding season timetable.
Best,
Karen in frigid western PA, USA

 

[fogdogacres]

We just bought the Sweeter Heater-- and installed it today-- it seems to have no heat umph. The ambiant temperature in our barn is about 40 degrees right now and the heater, which is hanging barely a half of an inch next to the temperature gauge, has only brought the small enclosed area up to 48 degrees. Definitely not hot enough for chicks which need 95 degrees! Good thing I tried it out before we brought the chicks home! I'm calling the company in the morning to see if this is a defective model. The paperwork says the heater panel should never get above 185 degrees, but since I can lay my hand on it and not feel much heat at all, I'm thinking perhaps this unit is a dud. Otherwise, I'm going to have to resort to the heat lamp, which can be a safety hazard. Drat!

Anyone else have an issue with theirs?

 

[redriver]

We just bought the Sweeter Heater-- and installed it today-- it seems to have no heat umph.  The ambiant temperature in our barn is about 40 degrees right now and the heater, which is hanging barely a half of an inch next to the temperature gauge, has only brought the small enclosed area up to 48 degrees.  Definitely not hot enough for chicks which need 95 degrees!  Good thing I tried it out before we brought the chicks home!  I'm calling the company in the morning to see if this is a defective model. The paperwork says the heater panel should never get above 185 degrees, but since I can lay my hand on it and not feel much heat at all, I'm thinking perhaps this unit is a dud.  Otherwise, I'm going to have to resort to the heat lamp, which can be a safety hazard.  Drat!

Anyone else have an issue with theirs?

Hmm... I am thinking about getting a Sweeter Heater, so I am very curious how it ends up working for you. Was planning on using it for a brooder out in our garage.

 

[popsicle]

We just bought the Sweeter Heater-- and installed it today-- it seems to have no heat umph. The ambiant temperature in our barn is about 40 degrees right now and the heater, which is hanging barely a half of an inch next to the temperature gauge, has only brought the small enclosed area up to 48 degrees. Definitely not hot enough for chicks which need 95 degrees! Good thing I tried it out before we brought the chicks home! I'm calling the company in the morning to see if this is a defective model. The paperwork says the heater panel should never get above 185 degrees, but since I can lay my hand on it and not feel much heat at all, I'm thinking perhaps this unit is a dud. Otherwise, I'm going to have to resort to the heat lamp, which can be a safety hazard. Drat!

Anyone else have an issue with theirs?

Please let us know what the company says. I also ordered one soon for brooding.

I'm wondering if it's like the Brinsea EcoGlow--that the chicks are supposed to actually come into contact with the unit for heat...?

 

[Chim Chim]

I just got the sweeter heater for my 4x4 wooden coop which is not (yet) insulated. I had a heat lamp going and was looking for something fire-safe and more effective. One of my RIRs got a frostbitten comb and that one plus another one started wheezing and sneezing. Also, all the eggs were freezing and exploding, so I needed something despite all the arguments that coops don't need heat! With the temperature hovering around zero lately, I wanted something that would bring the temperature up to close to freezing or just above. The cozy legs did NOTHING. It was going all night and the temperature was, according to the thermometer, colder than the outside air! You can get it on Amazon for 35-50 dollars or for over a hundred at Shop the Coop but, either way, it doesn't stand up to Minnesota winter weather. The Sweeter Heater was exactly what I was looking for: it won't start a fire and it has warmed the coop up to near freezing with the area just above their heads warmer than that. It has kept their combs from being further damaged by frostbite and the one is starting to heal up. The Sweeter Heater combined with udder balm on the combs and wattles, more ventilation up near the roof, and snuggle safes under the nesting pads to keep the eggs from freezing have solved all of our winter chicken woes! Well, OK, the water outside still keeps freezing and I have to run home on my lunch hour to refill it with hot water, but I'm getting close! BTW, others have had problems with the heater arriving ill-packaged and damaged, but mine came in 2 days flat, packaged well and in perfect condition.

 

[fogdogacres]

After the annoyance of being required to install some software, I am now able to respond to your inquiry. The panel heaters are working great! We ordered a second one and hung them side by side over their roosting perch where they sleep at night. Even though our coop is in the barn, we had a cold snap where it got down to 19 degrees in the coop. The "girls" seem to survive this fine with the panels. I like that they are easy to clean (I can just brush all the coop dust off them and they are fire-safe. So far, they have been a good investment!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Not saying you will but if you loose hydro on the coldest night of the winter what will you do for your birds??? They may taste good with dumpling I heard if you do nothing. Do you supply heat 24/7 or just on night below freezing. What is your game plan??? What breed of bird?? What age?? Are they chicks???

In Canada I am subject to -40º cold snaps. I do NOT heat my coop. Murphy's law says my birds will find out what -40 is all about when my hydro goes out. Regardless what you decide feed extra Corn over the winter you will not be sorry.

Or something like this may help also; You could even knit a hoodie for those extra cold days..

 

[Tambo26]

I never thought I would provide heat for my three BO hens... they're birds... they shouldn't need heat.... however this Maine winter has been brutal this year. 40 today -16 tonight... up down up down, rain/wet/freeze, rain/wet/freeze... My run is really WET when it rains or thaws increasing the possiblity of frostbite...

...and they aren't just chickens to me...

I broke down and bought a Sweeter Heater for inside the coop (4X4 and insulated) so that it stays a constant temperature somewhere! I purchased the biggest hanging model (I believe it was $145 total with shipping) and it doesnt fit across in any direction but fit PERFECTLY diagonally. I was originally bummed that I couldn't hang it directly over the whole roost but now I think it's better diagnonally so they can roost under it... or they can roost away from it!

I installed it yesterday and have run it constantly as the smell ( from what Sweeter says is the final drying/curing of the materials.. I want to hurry up and go away. it does stink like hot plastic, but not terrible or I wouldnt use it with the girls yet) I have opened a window that is protected from the weather so the smell doesn't bother them.

What a great little heater this seems to be! It's all sealed and can be easily cleaned and it is as light as can be! BEST of all it won't start a fire. It isn't hot so if the girls happen to touch it (they can't reach it) it wouldn't burn them. It comes with a hanging chain so when it gets well below zero if I need to I can lower it to be closer to them for more warmth. It was right around 0 degrees lastnight and it was 40 all night long in the coop.

I'm not worried about the power going out as my whole house is on a standby generator.... We had three days no power at Christmas... my girls Christmas lights were lit... until I felt bad that all my neighbors had NO power... yet my chickens were all comfy cozy with power and Christmas decorations all lit and everything! LOL!

So my opinion of this Sweeter Heater so far is positive. I will say that I saw a difference in my three girls this morning when I let them out! Full of energy, jumping and wing flapping and just plain happy and full of energy! Was it a warmer nights sleep????

 

[Sunset Ranch]

Bought an 11x30" sweeter heater for my broodie silkie hen when I had to move her into a little coop by herself. This was last month when temps were in the teens at night. One day later the chicks hatched and I left it on until they were big enough to navigate the ramp by themselves to follow mom around. I'll use it again when my mail order chicks arrive in April. Great investment!