How to keep eggs from freezing

[Ilovechickens2525]

Hi all, I live in a place where it gets extremely cold for several months, -40 for a good chunk of the winter and down to -50 usually for a cold snap. I don’t want all my eggs to freeze.

I have one radiant wall heater I was going to place near the roosting bars and use during those cold snaps. But I don’t think it would throw enough heat to keep eggs from freezing where the nesting boxes are on the other side of the coop. The nesting boxes are near the door, not much wall space near them. Anyone have any suggestions how to keep that space warm? Are there any really small wall heaters? It’s probably a 6 inch space between the boxes and the door.

The coop is insulated but already this morning the coop was only a couple degrees above freezing.

 

[aart]

@DobieLover has heated nests.
Thought she had an article but can't find it.

-40 for a good chunk of the winter and down to -50 usually for a cold snap

HolyMoly!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[DobieLover]

@DobieLover has heated nests.

Yes, but they would never hold up to the lows the OP experiences.

I incorporated the idea from another member. But the basics are very simple. Just install a seedling heat mat in the bottom of the nest box and secure it down with a thin piece of wood screwed to the bottom of the box without going through the mat. Then cover with fluffy dry bedding of choice.
For that to work in -40F temps, the boxes would have to be insulated all the way around and a curtain kept across the front to help trap the heat. And I'd still go out and check multiple times a day to retrieve eggs.

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

@DobieLover has heated nests.
Thought she had an article but can't find it.


HolyMoly!
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 3965813

I’m in Manitoba! It gets extremely cold

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

Yes, but they would never hold up to the lows the OP experiences.

I incorporated the idea from another member. But the basics are very simple. Just install a seedling heat mat in the bottom of the nest box and secure it down with a thin piece of wood screwed to the bottom of the box without going through the mat. Then cover with fluffy dry bedding of choice.
For that to work in -40F temps, the boxes would have to be insulated all the way around and a curtain kept across the front to help trap the heat. And I'd still go out and check multiple times a day to retrieve eggs

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...GdBvzwrZ1Ctys6xZiY9eDyH669a8Q-wBoCj-oQAvD_BwE


Something like this? Worth a shot. I could try it in the most popular nesting boxes. So is it just plugged in each day? The hens don’t peck at the cord?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

There is nice land for sale near me here in Missouri .....

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

There is nice land for sale near me here in Missouri .....

Fortunately our summers are lovely, I have learned to never complain about the heat and to really appreciate it, as it is so much better than our bitter cold winters!

I’ve wrapped our run in strong plastic on the side that gets the cold wind and blowing snow, so no wind or snow should blow into our coop and we do have good ventilation and the coop is insulated so I hope they do ok in there! Just thinking about the eggs now lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I spent a year in Montana back in 1975, I believe. Montana is magnificent three months of the year. It only has three seasons though as I recall. June, July and winter! And you're further north than that!

 

[Ilovechickens2525]

I spent a year in Montana back in 1975, I believe. Montana is magnificent three months of the year. It only has three seasons though as I recall. June, July and winter! And you're further north than that!

That’s about us too, we pretty much go from summer to winter here! Although last year was a bit better and this year has been good so far too, we are solidly in fall now. One of my boys wore shorts to school today still and in past years we’ve had snow by now lol! So I’m crossing my fingers for a mild winter!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We're just barely starting to see some color in the trees. They're a little late this year. And we MAY get a little frost soon but then it will warm up again.