Use of flat panel heater in the coop

[Bogtown Chick]

I have the 150 watt. I can touch it with my hand for a period of time and it feels fine. It's not a real intense heat though....and not sure the size of your coop, insulation, etc...so I always say it could be you'll be disappointed in it or you'll think it's perfect--not over spoiling your chickens, but not keeping them in cruel temps either. Thankfully for me it's the latter. Some people I've read though it's worthless to them.

I'd say prayers on the -35 F nights when I'd hang a red lamp. Not that I mind saying prayers...but I decided for my own relaxed state of sleeping I needed something different than the red lamp. I see already in our local news there was a garage fire related to a coop with a red lamp in Duluth. It's a real concern.

 

[farmhouse1888]

This is great & thanks for your photos. I have seen your coop before & it is just great. Well done! I have just bought the Cozy Legs flat panel heater from Amazon for the coop. It was $48.00. I like the way you mounted it. I may also use a small strip on wood at the base, like a shelf effect. Thanks again for sharing your ides & your coop with us all!

 

[Kaydence]

Holy is it cold out today. I'm thinking I might need to invest in a flat panel heater. I have a 250w heat lamp right now, but my girls are shivering. And it's -25c right now.

 

[ms-lilly]

Hi,

I have a 22 x 12 insulated coop and have mounted a DeLonghi SafeHeat flat panel ceramic heater. It has two heat settings (low and high), a built-in thermostat, safety tip over and overheat shut off features. There is no fan so it does not blow the dust around but radiates the heat outward. It is cool to the touch and quiet. The unit came with mounting hardware and was easy to mount. I mounted it according to the manufacturer's instructions about 4 feet above the floor. It is across from the roosting bars. On -18 degree days, it heats the coop to around 20 degrees on the high setting, warm enough for the molting hens and the silkies, but not so warm that the hens don't want to go out into the run when the temp warms up. I used to hang several 250 W heat lamps but got tired or replacing burned out bulbs, running electrical cords, positioning the lights, and dealing with broken lamps. The flat panel heater has been a reliable, affordable solution (around $89 from WalMart) for our cold Wisconsin weather.
Regards

 

[aart]

Hi,

I have a 22 x 12 insulated coop and have mounted a DeLonghi SafeHeat flat panel ceramic heater. It has two heat settings (low and high), a built-in thermostat, safety tip over and overheat shut off features. There is no fan so it does not blow the dust around but radiates the heat outward. It is cool to the touch and quiet. The unit came with mounting hardware and was easy to mount. I mounted it according to the manufacturer's instructions about 4 feet above the floor. It is across from the roosting bars. On -18 degree days, it heats the coop to around 20 degrees on the high setting, warm enough for the molting hens and the silkies, but not so warm that the hens don't want to go out into the run when the temp warms up. I used to hang several 250 W heat lamps but got tired or replacing burned out bulbs, running electrical cords, positioning the lights, and dealing with broken lamps. The flat panel heater has been a reliable, affordable solution (around $89 from WalMart) for our cold Wisconsin weather.
Regards

@ms-lilly ...wonders where your coop thermometer is in relation to the heater panel to get those temp?

......also is the -18 a Fahrenheit reading and is it a windchill temp or an actual temp ?

 

[Mountaineer]

I know this is a really old thread but...just in case you're still on here I have a couple of questions. I, too, live in the mountains of WV and this is my first winter with my eight chickens. I have my coop (4' x 8') and my yard ( 8' x 15') underneath a carport so everything is protected from precipitation. And, I also do not have a solid roof on the coop but only hardware cloth so ventilation is not a problem. It gets pretty cold here...single digits...and I'm a bit worried about comb frostbite and the general overall well being. Since you have now gone through a couple of winters have you had any problems during the winter? And, did you install a heater?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I know this is a really old thread but...just in case you're still on here I have a couple of questions. I, too, live in the mountains of WV and this is my first winter with my eight chickens. I have my coop (4' x 8') and my yard ( 8' x 15') underneath a carport so everything is protected from precipitation. And, I also do not have a solid roof on the coop but only hardware cloth so ventilation is not a problem. It gets pretty cold here...single digits...and I'm a bit worried about comb frostbite and the general overall well being. Since you have now gone through a couple of winters have you had any problems during the winter? And, did you install a heater?

I have a 5 x 6ish coop. I have the 150 Flat panel heater from Target. CoZy Legs or something like that. It takes the bite out of a cold below zero day. I would say 10-15 degrees difference. It does not heat up the coop too much. And I only turn it on when its 0 or less Fahrenheit. It's been pretty nice to use. I do have insulation in my ceiling...but there's enough ventilation to keep windows defrosted. If your coop is really really open and ventilated...it may not hurt to bump up to the higher wattage of Flat panel heater. unfortunately that is more $ though too. I'm thinking the 150W may not put too much of a difference in your coop. It's a VERY mild heat. Some people have even given bad reviews..but I think it was because their set up was too big or too overly aired-out....you know what I mean? This unit...my size coop with the type of venting I have works for me....may not work for all though.

 

[Mountaineer]

So your chickens have no problems handling 0 degree Fahrenheit temps? That's good news. I imagine it gets much colder in Minnesota than it does in WV. It rarely gets to zero here and I have all the draft holes plugged but my roof is still open so that causes me a little concern. Thank you for your answer.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The Midwest gets pretty cold in Winter, some of the harshest temperatures during the winter. My birds do fine without any extra heat, and are outside most days.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

So your chickens have no problems handling 0 degree Fahrenheit temps? That's good news. I imagine it gets much colder in Minnesota than it does in WV. It rarely gets to zero here and I have all the draft holes plugged but my roof is still open so that causes me a little concern. Thank you for your answer.

They don't have trouble with it -- no. But single comb birds can get nipped good. Especially if it stays on for a while. We have a dry cold here and the warm ups around here usually bring in moisture. So it's sort of relative on temps and humidity on what you need to do there. That's why ventilation is so important still- to release that humidity up and out. I'll tell you we've had a mild winter so far but I don't really care for it as it's been high humidity. It's almost more dangerous for frost bit combs. Needless to say I'm converting to rose comb and cushion comb birds.