Use of flat panel heater in the coop

[crazychick26201]

Thanks for your pictures. They helped a lot.

Ours arrived in the mail today, and my husband and I are installing it this afternoon. We are expecting some very cold below zero weather in the next few days. I will try to send pictures when I can figure out how to do it on this forum. We plan to watch it very carefully over the next few days. I would be happy if it just maintained the coop at 0 but not below.

Have you had any problems with frostbite?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I've got a couple hens with combs that are slightly frostbit...yes. I think with these drastically cold temps they tuck their head under their wings and the moisture from their breathing condenses on their combs a bit. We had major issues with my rooster last winter...large combed variety. He lost over 1/2 of his comb and probably 2/3 of his wattles. it was horrible and stressed me out. Probably more than what I should have been. But I didn't insulate and didn't use heat until too late and plus the winter was just as horrid last year for temps that went on forever. I thought everybody was pretty much "partially/naturally dubbed" from last year. But i guess there are a few girls getting it now...no problems for the Rooster this year. But this morning we had a -37 F. That's about 10 more degrees colder than last year. The coop was -10 inside with the heater. So I would say that 150 watt makes about a 25 degree difference for the 6'x7'x6' coop with 11 birds and a 40 watt cookie tin water heater which are adding heat minimally to this coop.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Crazy chick do you have your heater up and running?

If you get a chance post some pictures. Another lady from the Minnesota thread is using these butter fly clips and 2x2's to frame and hold in place her heater. I like the idea so much that I think I may take some time and make a similar set up for my heater. Much easier than than the screws...neater looking etc.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/72771/minnesota/2210

I think this will take you right to her idea on that thread. She's got the heater ordered but not here yet.

 

[crazychick26201]

Hi! Thanks for your photos and info. Our flat panel heater arrived not a mi ute too soon, just before the first bout of Arctic weather. We placed it as high up as we could on the coop wall, using a kind of curved brackets my husband found that the heater just sits within. I also ordered a hi/lo switch for the heater. It puts put 72 watts on low and 150 on high. Weplugged it in to a wall outlet that also supports a heated waterer. Works fine. It kept the coop about 5 degrees above the outdoor air temps. It has been down to 4 degrees and the coop was at 9 with the heater. Tomorrow, it is supposed to get down to -9 with wind chill temps to -40. I am still so worried. We added extra bales of hay and bags of leaves around the outside to insulate further. We live on top of a hill and it is very windy here. Tomorrow the temps are supposed to drop rapidly, but I may get a change to take photos, and I will see if I can post them on here.

Thanks for all your help. how cold has it been there the last few days?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

This morning it was -33 F outside. With the snow insulating the coop. when I opened the door it was -10 F. in the coop at roosting level. Tonight is going to be the hum-dinger. Weather.com said low is -26 with -50 windchills. but it always seems like when I check in the morning it's lower than what they forcasted.

I guess it's all relative when it comes down to it. So it will be interesting to see what the app says tomorrow morning anyways. I did add that heat lamp that's another 150 watts to the coop. I'll pull it out Tuesday as the Artic Vortex loosens it's grip. Wow what a weather deal this is!.

I think also there is this "opening the coop door" deal with my thermometer. It will climb a bit after I duck inside and close the door and spend some time with the chickens. Today I watched it climb to -5...then headed back to the house.

I've got a few hens with frostbite on their combs. I gobbed on some bag balm to the combs so hopefully this will protect their combs from further damage tonight as well along with the added heat.

Wishing you all well during our deep freeze.

~BTC

 

[crazychick26201]

I am going to try to post some pictures of the coop with insulating hay outside, and also how the heater is mounted on the wall. We used two 2 pronged tool hooks mounted on the bottom with wood screws and one 2 pronged hook in the middle on top. Purchased at Lowes or The Dollar Tree, he can't recall.

 

[crazychick26201]

Here is inside the winter coop.

Here is the outside of our coop.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

The radiant heater set up and your coop look real neat & cozy. Looks like it should do the trick. Stay warm!

 

[crazychick26201]

Thanks. it is zero now and coop temp is 8. The wind is roaring around our house at 9 o'clock p.m..

I sure hope your chickens are okay. Let me know tomorrow!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

All my girls and the rooster are doing okay. I'm sure...sick of being cooped up but it is what it is... They roosted all day of course...keeping their toes warm. jumping down for a quick bite and then back up on the roost...near where the the warmth of the heater and lamp are coming. I added a lambing lamp to the coop along with the radiant heater. several of the birds just went right underneath the lamp. It was keeping at -5 to 0 in the coop last day or so. I lifted their waterer up to them on the roost tonight as I think it froze over inside the coop despite the cookie tin heater. cleared out the ice first then let them drink right on the roost. They all guzzled a bunch. Was glad I had the foresight to think of that. Thursday the "vortex" will move along and we'll be in the 20's they predict. Wont that be heaven?! 2 more days of below zero for us. I think I'll get some flock blocks going tomorrow night as some boredom busters.

I touched the radiant heater this morning just to see how it felt in the frigidness. It was warm...LOL...but not as warm as it usually is to the touch. Good old Minnesota weather keeping that thing going through its paces...obviously.