Winterizing a metal nesting box?

[Relleoms]

Any suggestions how best to winterize a metal nesting box? Can I use a radiant heat source to conduct heat to the rest of the unit to take off the edge? I’m not looking to keep eggs from freezing necessarily, just make it a bit more comfortable for my girls to lay in. I currently have feed bags folded in the bottom, topped with plastic mats and pine shavings. Thanks in advance!

 

[Alaskan]

Ack.... just how cold does it get?

I would be tempted to just swap it out for plastic or wood or cardboard....or...

I worry a bit about using a heat source with the metal.... not sure how hot spots etc.. would work....

You could experiment with heat tape, or a warming mat made for dog kennels....

But I would check it a BUNCH when setting it up and look for hot spots, as well of course for any possible combustion points....

Swapping it out for something not as cold would be easier...

It does sound like you have done a good job of insulating the boxes with feed bag, etc..

 

[woodmort]

I've use metal nesting boxes for years mounted on the exterior(although insulated) walls with just straw bedding on plastic inserts--never saw the need for heating. While we do lose some eggs to freezing, the lack of heat doesn't deter the hens from laying--just gather a couple of times a day. Bottom line, I don't see the need for heat unless your nest box is in a run outside of the coop.

 

[Relleoms]

You’re probably right about swapping it out for the cold months, I was just hoping to use what I’ve already got! We were -4F this morning and can get down to -25F or so. I’ve got a radiant flat panel heater and a seedling mat that I may try, or just set up a big Rubbermaid container filled with straw. Thanks for your input, @Alaskan!

 

[Relleoms]

I've use metal nesting boxes for years mounted on the exterior(although insulated) walls with just straw bedding on plastic inserts--never saw the need for heating. While we do lose some eggs to freezing, the lack of heat doesn't deter the hens from laying--just gather a couple of times a day. Bottom line, I don't see the need for heat unless your nest box is in a run outside of the coop.

How cold do you get, @woodmort? Has there been a time your girls wouldn’t lay because it was too cold? Mine is on an interior wall of an uninsulated coop. And right now only 7-8 of my 21 girls are laying. But it just seems so...cold!​

 

[woodmort]

How cold do you get, @woodmort?

We get to 10- 15 below in Jan and Feb with day-time temperatures in the teens. These may last for a week or more at a time. BTW today's high is 23 with overnight lows expected in single digits--not normal for Nov 12th. I gave them the opportunity to go out today but the inch of snow we got overnight kind of put them off.

Right now 36 of my 40 girls are this spring's chicks and just starting to lay but normally I get 2.5 doz eggs, today I got 2 doz. Whether they keep laying will depend on the breed--my RIR,NHR, BR and Australorps normally keep at it all winter, leghorns and eggers not so much, Bramas and Orpingtons vary by bird.