Worried eggs will freeze in the winter

[blucoondawg]

I am in northern Wisconsin and have been having trouble the last few days with frozen eggs as it has been unseasonably cold this week. I haven't had time to get the nest boxes I want built hopefully I will do it in the next couple weeks, I plan to build a roll away design similar to the one Opa posted on this forum, then I will install a low wattage light bulb in the collection area, this should keep the temp above freezing.

 

[Island Roo]

I'm thinking the same thing now. This is what my roll-aways look like.
I can decide on a heat source yet. Maybe one of those low wattage seeding warmers.

 

[Island Roo]

Now, if I could just get a couple of the girls to quit laying on the floor where they do freeze

I use a portable nest. Leave it on the floor where you find eggs. Then each day move it a couple of inches towards the nest boxes. I put straw in the roll-away boxes during the learning phase.

 

[3BirdGirlz]

OK, here is what I came up with, and so far it's working just fine. 
We are near Calgary, Alberta, and this week it's -28C (approx -20 F). everything freezes, except my eggs (...and my hen's eggs, which we are actually discussing).
I have uninsulated barn that has the same temperature as outside, minus the wind. I purchased heating tape from Home Depot - the kind you wrap around your pipes so they do not freese. I stretched  it flat, drilled holes on the dividing walls between the boxes at the level of the bottom board, and pulled it through from the first to the last box and back (kind of an U shape when looked at from above). The tape has built in thermo unit so it kicks in when cold and turns off when warmer, and keeps  the temperature at 5-7C ( 42F), just enough to keep the eggs from freezing without cooking them. The hens do not care for the wire that is under them (and is covered with straw). At the same time the tape is not warm enough so the hens do not lay in the boxes overnight...)
Today we had -28C and after coming back from work - zero frozen eggs. I am veryy happy with my "invention".
hope this helps you all.
link to the product: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/15-ft-electric-pipe-heating-cable/909328

This is a great idea!!! I'm going to do this. My eggs freeze so bad in our weather....this past week I've only had one egg that didn't freeze within the hour....thanks!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Watering
For along time I used heater tape around a bucket with chicken watering nipples. It worked excellent. However me being me I neglected to change the water as often as I should. This is what it looks like and it thermostatically controlled to come on at just above the freezing temperature. You would have to wrap it to suit your particular application if it is viable for your set up. It is available at Home Depot in Canada. Could also be used for keeping eggs from freezing in nest boxes.