Last year we had some unusually cold weather for our area, many days never reaching above freezing.
Although the birds and my cookie tin water heater did just fine, I froze quite a few eggs.
My work schedule allows me only to collect at 8am and 8pm. I lost dozens due to them freezing solid.
I have decided to heat the laying boxes.
My plan is to use seed heat mats on the bottom of the nests, covered with a heavy paper leaf bag . I use shredded junk mail as nesting material. I have been using the leaf bags and shredded paper for many years now it works very well for my needs.
The heat pads claim to raise the temperature 10 to 20 degrees.
The power will come from the light timer, on at 5:30am off at 9pm, then through a thermo cube, on at 35F off at 45F.
I would love your ideas or thoughts on this.
Although the birds and my cookie tin water heater did just fine, I froze quite a few eggs.
My work schedule allows me only to collect at 8am and 8pm. I lost dozens due to them freezing solid.
I have decided to heat the laying boxes.
My plan is to use seed heat mats on the bottom of the nests, covered with a heavy paper leaf bag . I use shredded junk mail as nesting material. I have been using the leaf bags and shredded paper for many years now it works very well for my needs.
The heat pads claim to raise the temperature 10 to 20 degrees.
The power will come from the light timer, on at 5:30am off at 9pm, then through a thermo cube, on at 35F off at 45F.
I would love your ideas or thoughts on this.