we added HOT rocks to our coop

[WilczenskiFarm]

I completely get that water is better than rock (thanks for that info - that was pretty cool!) but I fight a little humidity as it is with all the openings to the coop closed... I like the heated rocks idea!

 

[RocketDad]

???

The water would be in a sealed container. The evaporation would cool the water too quickly, otherwise, and you don't want the humidity. OR spilling!

For a larger coop, try a 5-gallon bucket with lid. Smaller coop, use one-gallon milk or juice jugs, or plastic liquor bottles (as available...)

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
Well if you have a cooked or injured chicken, you'll know it wasn't the best idea you (or I) have ever heard of.....

Perhaps you should invest in a brooder/heat lamp with a low wattage bulb.

 

[BBK]

well, no cooked anything!!! They were fine and more energetic, it seemed.

I have a heat lamp, but we didn't have extension cord that would have gone that far. We just bought them yesterday, but it's for the water not freezing.

I think we'll use the rocks again if it goes below 0. They're only in a tractor and not enough room for a 5 gal bucket, well, i guess you could put a 5 gal bucket in there, but I don't think i'd be able to lift it up and in. The rocks are easier, IMO.

Thanks RocketDAD for your info, This will work for new coop. I do have one question tho. with the evaporation of the water. i thought you were supposed to keep the humidity out of the coop or the combs, wattles, feet get frost bite.

We did not use river rocks either, these came from my garden, I had painted them to look like little shops/houses. So they were getting old looking, I was going to throw them out back, but DH saved them. Actually the one one had cracked in two, a couple of yrs. ago.

Melinda

 

[Sissy]

we are using a 250 watt red heat blub
as our temps are 32-33 this week.
and as the silkies huddle to gether
keep each other warm
they are about 4 months old.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

This is interesting.

Rocket Dad - Of course, cold is not my main issue in Phoenix, but still, what an interesting idea. Put hot water in a closed container for heat. Very interesting. I wonder if anyone has tried it.

BBK - thank you for starting this thread! I am glad you chickens are happy today!

 

[RocketDad]

I do have one question tho. with the evaporation of the water. i thought you were supposed to keep the humidity out of the coop or the combs, wattles, feet get frost bite.

Container with lid! Container with lid! No evaporation, no spilling, no humidity!!

Use a 1-gallon jug. 1 gallon (about 8 pounds - you should be able to fit that it any chicken-comfy space) of water at just-below boiling holds more heat than 40 pounds of rocks at 200 degrees.​

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I have a 45 lb foundry weight that is pure steel, it measures 3x4x8 inches.
How well would that heat a coop?
Would it stay warmer longer than rocks or water?

 

[RocketDad]

Steel has about 1/8 the heat capacity of water.

http://www.engineersedge.com/properties_of_metals.htm

Specific Heat
(Btu/lb/°F)

Steel, mild 0.122


But you have 45 # to work with..... that would be a smaller package than the water. And like the rocks, you can heat it higher than water. But then you have a VERY hot object in the coop.

One way to use the metal block: Put a really high wattage bulb under it, maybe with bricks or something. It will radiate the heat slowly, once it's up to temp, and it will hold heat against power failure. Like swedish tile stoves. And you wouldn't have to move it. I don't think I'd want to pull a 45 pound weight baked to 200 or more degrees and carry it around. The hotter it is the more heat it holds, but the scarier it becomes.

I thought about doing something like this with bricks, but just ended up gluing a cake pan on top of a one-hole cinderblock for my waterer, and using a lower wattage bulb. Then I put a cheap space heater in one of the nest boxes and fenced it off from the hens with hardware cloth.


Here's the thing about the water - it has a higher heat capacity than ANYTHING else within it's liquid-phase temperature range. If you can use higher temps, you can use something like rocks or metal, and accept the losses. Within safe temperature ranges it's the best thermal mass.

 

[BedHead]

Wow, I love this place. I hope to have backyard hens next winter and it gets REALLY cold here - I LOVE the idea of a big water container with a lid filled with hot water!! I'm nervous about heat lamps especially if the coop is surrounded with straw bales. If I put a 5 gallon pail of hot water out there twice a day that should keep the girls nice and toasty if it's minus 40!