Mini Crock Pot in Coop

[jessylee]

This is my first winter with chickens I have 4 hens and 4, 5 month old muscovies. I have a 3 1/2 foot by 5 foot coop, that is not insulated. I did wrap the coop with a draw string tarp. I read a lot in the forums and decided not to heat my coop this winter, My coop has small vents up high and is pretty draft free. BUT the winter here this year has come very suddenly, it was 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night fall, and yesterday night It got into the teens. Thinking the sudden change might be too much for the first timers I broke down tonight and decided to put a mini crock pot (a bit larger than a soft ball) In the coop. Has anyone ever tried this before? Does this sound like a safe source of heat. It is sitting on a plate with a large medal bowl over the top. I cant think of a reason this would be a fire hazard, Can you? The crock pot has only one temp witch is hot to the touch but not so hot it can hurt you. The medal bowl is warm. I have been checking the temp inside the coop last night got close to 10 degrees and the temp in side the coop stayed around 30 degrees. I am not planning on having this all winter I just couldn't stand watching the ducks shiver. Again I am a first timer all help is welcome.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

This may be a dumb question, but do you have water in the crock pot?

 

[RIBill]

It's probably not a fire hazard, but it might be a burn hazard. They generally get hot enough to slow simmer. If it has water in it, it might get too humid in there. If not, it would likely crack the crock.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

What in the world is the use of a crock pot that small? Remember everything that has power is a fire hazard to some degree, especially something made to heat up. That being said I think it would be relatively safe.

 

[swimmer]

I think crock pots are designed to have something in them, like food. And not to be heated empty. We had -3 last night and I never heat my coop and it isn't insulated. They were fine.

 

[Cargo]

Wow! You need to resize your images for internet use.

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
No there is not water in it

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
I left it plugged in inside the house and after an hour I could put my hand inside the middle, and although I wouldn't leave it there for 30 seconds I could touch it. I don't care if it cracks, I just really don't want the humidity

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
I have no Idea what you would use it for, maybe melting butter or chocolate? Yeah I figured there was some risk if you run power out doors, the youngest haven't gotten all their feathers yet and I have never seen them act so miserable. Old man winter came early and hard!

 

[jessylee]

Quote:
Yeah I guess i figured it is safer and a light bulb, and I had it handy I cant believe It was nearly 10 degrees here last night, We might be as cold as you if this keeps up. I really was not going to heat it but I checked in the coop and cant stand to see shivering from the 4-5 month olds, Do you think at that age they should have enough feathers? I have a husky mix that doesn't ever realize it is winter, but when he was 4 moths old it would have been different. I have been trying to chub them up, and started feeding chili's.