Extension cord question

[K0k0shka]

I read a few threads on the subject and they seem to vary between "you'll be fine" and "your coop will burn down" so... I'm a bit confused. Can somebody more experienced please put my mind at ease?

I live in a cold climate and will need a heated waterer for the winter, which means I'll need electricity in the coop. I was thinking of running a heavy duty outdoor extension cord from the garage to the coop, I think about 50 feet, and only have the water heater plugged into it (with a surge protector). Maybe also a small night light inside the coop, providing just enough light for me to collect eggs in the dark days of winter, but not bright enough to wake and bother the chickens. And no heating for the coop.

So, if I got this 60-watt thermostat-controlled waterer:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BV1WLE/?tag=backy-20

And used this outdoor extension cord (either the 40ft or the 80ft, but not two linked together):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SQET/?tag=backy-20

would my life burn down? Outdoor electricity freaks me out, please help!

 

[MadisonOde]

I know others disagree with me, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep safely without a heat lamp in my coop! I run a heavy duty cord from my garage and plug in the water heater and light. We haven’t had any problems with it. We also plug a fan in when it gets over 90°.

 

[K0k0shka]

Thanks for the input, MadisonOde! I think I'm way more afraid of a fire than of my chickens being cold so they won't be getting a heat lamp. Good to hear the heavy duty cord is working out for you though.

 

[PirateGirl]

I think the nightlight is totally unnecessary. You can use a headlamp or flashlight when going to the coop at night, no electricity required. You can have a battery powered light or lantern you switch on from time to time if you need to go to the coop in the dark. My personal favorite (since it's dark soooooo dang early in winter) is a solar powered motion sensored light on the coop. When I approach, it turns on. I hang it on a nail and when needed I can take it off and shine it into the coop or any other direction. It shuts off after I walk away and recharges the next day. Easy. In terms of your heated water dish... they make this extension cord connection covers, so it will keep the snow, etc. out of your connection. I like to hang my cord in a way that the connecting point can't be buried in snow as well. I also put the heated water dish outside in the run NOT inside in the coop (extra moisture plus cold is a recipe for frost bite) and this keeps the electricity out of the coop itself.

 

[Criticalicious]

Until we can pay an electrician to properly bury a cable to run power out there, we "temporarily" buried an outdoor extension cord from the house to the coop to run the heated waterer last winter. The cord goes right through the gravel driveway. That was over six months ago and nothing burned down. No heat lamps were used.

 

[K0k0shka]

Thanks @PirateGirl ! I was thinking of running the extension cord inside the coop through one of the vent openings, then doing a drip loop inside to protect it from dripping moisture and attaching it to the wall away from the vents. I like those covers though, I can add one as well, just in case. I want to keep the waterer inside the coop though, for the inevitable days when the chickens can't or don't want to go outside. I want them to have access to water at all times. This waterer is fully closed on all sides and has horizontal nipples, so it shouldn't evaporate a lot of water into the air.

I really like the solar light/lantern idea! I'll definitely look into that.

 

[PirateGirl]

Until we can pay an electrician to properly bury a cable to run power out there, we "temporarily" buried an outdoor extension cord from the house to the coop to run the heated waterer last winter. The cord goes right through the gravel driveway. That was over six months ago and nothing burned down. No heat lamps were used.

This brings up a really good point, you don't want the cord to be where you would regularly drive over it or risk tripping on it!

 

[K0k0shka]

My cord would run along the border of the property behind bushes, so it will be out of everybody's way.

Do I need to worry about critters chewing through it though? I remember that being mentioned somewhere...

 

[Criticalicious]

We buried the cable where it crosses the driveway, so it doesn't cause issues. Also the waterer is the heated poultry waterer from Premier 1 - that stayed in the run. So far the critters haven't eaten it. *fingers crossed* They caused $500 damage to my car instead.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

would my life burn down? Outdoor electricity freaks me out, please help!

The biggest fire starter is unsecured lamps or lamps in general getting stuff built up on them. Your water dish heater should not cause the same problems.

I would make SURE you are plugged into a GFI to prevent accidental shock.

Securing it where the cord can not be pulled and tripped on would be one of my concerns.

Good luck!