Any suggestions on how to solve our frostbite problem?

[Granny Hatchet]

hahahaha, yes. i trained my dog to pull my socks off. it was supposed to be for my mother but its his favorite toy. I do belive that was a photo op.

 

[Phoenixxx]

No, I'm not kidding!  Here is the article:  http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/7...light_bulbs_toxic_to_chickens_the_full_story/ 
This is not the only incident, but it is one of the most well written that I've seen.  I have not bought a single GE light bulb since I read that, or knowingly purchased anything else made by GE or a GE-owned company.  I found the whole situation unbelievable.  But I am now a loyal Sylvania user, and have sent them a letter thanking them for being responsible (these comments will make sense after you read the article).

If you're using the Teflon-coated bulbs without problems, then you've been lucky.  The effects are dose-dependent, so maybe you got one that was poorly coated, or you have good floor ventilation, or your birds roost high enough that the gas doesn't get up to them, or for some reason your particular bulb isn't getting hot enough to emit fumes.  Whatever the reason, there's no guarantee that your luck won't change in the future.  If that's the bulb you're using, I wouldn't risk using it one more minute around chickens or any species of bird.  It is safe to use around humans and other mammals, but I'd personally take it back to the place you bought it, request a refund, and demand that the manager post a warning sign by the bulbs warning customers of the dangers.  GE may not care, but hopefully there's some store managers out there with a conscious.  (OK, yes, now I'm officially ranting!  Sorry.  I can tolerate people or companies being uninformed, but once informed they have a responsibility to minimize any danger their product presents.  No one was asking GE to stop producing this product, only to put a warning label on it.  It would cost them almost nothing -- product packaging gets redesigned and relabeled all the time.  There is no logical reason for GE to continue to endanger birds like this.)

My bulbs are "ruff-lite" by AGS. I'm gonna google their contact info right now and ask about the product!

 

[Phoenixxx]

My bulbs are "ruff-lite" by AGS. I'm gonna google their contact info right now and ask about the product!

Just got off the phone with them. AGS uses silicone and not teflon. The silicone must be okay because, like I said, I used the bulbs all last winter and this winter without issue. However, I will google "effects of heating silicone" to see what comes up.

 

[4 the Birds]

Those comb caps are cute!!

5 below last night here and our birds are doing fine with no frost bite. I give them plenty of cracked corn in bowls when I visit daily and clean the poop boards and refresh their water. The pop doors and upper vents (down wind) are always open. I use three 250W heat lamps in a large coop for our 30 chickens and hanging heated water dispensers. 15 below is forecasted here soon.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

LOVE your coop design ! do 30 birds fight to get under the heat lamps? i am running an extension cord so mine wont carry that big of a load.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Just got off the phone with them. AGS uses silicone and not teflon. The silicone must be okay because, like I said, I used the bulbs all last winter and this winter without issue. However, I will google "effects of heating silicone" to see what comes up.

Best I could find was a MSDS for a Phillips bulb using the silicone coating. The only thing it says under "health hazards" is: "possible irritation from inhalation when silicone is removed from the bulb." So, basically, it's presumably safe as long as you don't try to remove the coating.

 

[4 the Birds]

LOVE your coop design ! do 30 birds fight to get under the heat lamps? i am running an extension cord so mine wont carry that big of a load.

Thanks! They pretty much roost up on the roost bars during the night. Occasionaly I do see a hen with her wings spread to soak up some heat under a lamp. The low stress environment allows the girls to concentrate on laying eggs instead of survival. I am getting a couple dozen eggs each day.

I read in this thread that some just let their birds eat snow instead of giving water. Most likely they don't produce many eggs since most of their energy goes into maintaining heat and surviving.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
So not only does GE refuse to label their product properly, but there is even a way to make the product safe and GE doesn't use it!?! What an irresponsible corporation!!!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Thanks! They pretty much roost up on the roost bars during the night. Occasionaly I do see a hen with her wings spread to soak up some heat under a lamp. The low stress environment allows the girls to concentrate on laying eggs instead of survival. I am getting a couple dozen eggs each day.

I read in this thread that some just let their birds eat snow instead of giving water. Most likely they don't produce many eggs since most of their energy goes into maintaining heat and surviving.

ya, i dont understand that. seems like they wouldnt live long enough to do anything.

i just have a heated waterer and they do have some frostbite combs.

 

[Phoenixxx]

So not only does GE refuse to label their product properly, but there is even a way to make the product safe and GE doesn't use it!?!  What an irresponsible corporation!!!

I don't understand, either. Not like it's expensive - the pack of 4 bulbs that I bought cost maybe $5, if that. I'm so glad I lucked out! My googling led me to some horror stories, like people losing parrots via the simple error of accidentally letting a teflon pot boil dry or running the cleaning cycle on their ovens! And parrots aren't cheap! I'll be avoiding GE products now; I already avoid everything dupont that I possibly can.