Housing new Pekins 2011 – continued

In the previous post I blogged about heating the dog kennel to keep the little Pekins warm until they feather out some more.

I monitor the internal and external temps with a Projection Alarm Clock Temperature Station that I purchased from Bunnings for $10 – a clearance item.

  

Here is the remote sensor in the back corner of the chooks sleeping quarters. The average internal temp is 4 to 5 degrees above the outside, for example on a chilly night of 6 degrees the box temp will be about 10 – cosy.

I use a simple mechanical timer to turn the heat lamp on about 5:30PM. Currently sunrise is around 7:15 EST so the off time  is set for about 6:30AM. This allows the box to start cooling down so they don’t go straight out into the cold morning air.

  

I had been intending to put a light in the run for ages so while I had the tools out decided to install a bunker light on the main centre timber beam., This was another Bunnings clearance item for I think $5 bucks. I go down to the chook run several times each night to check for rat activity so the bunker light is plugged into a wireless receiver so I can turn it on remotely.