Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[3riverschick]

All I can say is ...wow..who would have thunk it!! How sad...
Karen

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Mother Earth News
Dear MOTHER: October/November 2012
(Page 3 of 6)
http://tinyurl.com/cobh283 , scroll down page to:
Warning: GE Light Bulbs Can Kill Your Chickens
In February 2011, I needed a new heat bulb for my chickens. In New Hampshire — as in many cold parts of the United States — we turn on a light bulb to keep birds’ water from freezing and to warm their space in winter. Close to the heat bulbs at the store were new-to-me General Electric bulbs for rough use. I bought a GE Rough Service Worklight 100 with “protective coating” that made it “shatter resistant” if broken. Good idea for a light bulb in a chicken shed, I thought. I never wondered about the new bulb. Coated with what?
I used the new bulb on the morning of Feb. 6, 2011. That night I opened the door to my coop and found a death scene. Nineteen birds lay dead on their backs. I was horrified and worried about what could have caused such a tragedy. The next day, I sent four birds to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, where veterinarian Inga Sidor confirmed that the birds had died because of toxic gas given off by the GE light bulb, which, it turned out, was coated with Teflon (aka PTFE).

 

[7961]

We finally picked up a quad of Dominiques from Fred Farthing yesterday. I'm not the best picture taker and they're still skiddish.

 

[Lacy Blues]

All I can say is ...wow..who would have thunk it!! How sad...
Karen

=========================================
Mother Earth News
Dear MOTHER: October/November 2012
(Page 3 of 6)
http://tinyurl.com/cobh283 , scroll down page to:
Warning: GE Light Bulbs Can Kill Your Chickens
In February 2011, I needed a new heat bulb for my chickens. In New Hampshire — as in many cold parts of the United States — we turn on a light bulb to keep birds’ water from freezing and to warm their space in winter. Close to the heat bulbs at the store were new-to-me General Electric bulbs for rough use. I bought a GE Rough Service Worklight 100 with “protective coating” that made it “shatter resistant” if broken. Good idea for a light bulb in a chicken shed, I thought. I never wondered about the new bulb. Coated with what?
I used the new bulb on the morning of Feb. 6, 2011. That night I opened the door to my coop and found a death scene. Nineteen birds lay dead on their backs. I was horrified and worried about what could have caused such a tragedy. The next day, I sent four birds to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, where veterinarian Inga Sidor confirmed that the birds had died because of toxic gas given off by the GE light bulb, which, it turned out, was coated with Teflon (aka PTFE).

Oh my gosh! Thank you for sharing that! I will definitely NEVER buy them!

 

[3riverschick]

Oh my gosh! Thank you for sharing that! I will definitely NEVER buy them!

I almost bought one last year for my coop in the winter. Even had it in my hand, but it was expensive and Hubby nixed it in favor of a regular 85 watt bulb.
Whew!
Karen

 

[catdaddyfro]

There is an article in the Oct./Nov. issue of Backyard Poultry mag. on pg 16 about the rough service bulbs and the dangers of using them, as they put off a poisonous gas when used in a closed up space it seems and is very toxic to chickens.




http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/i...t_bulbs_toxic_to_chickens_the_full_story.html

Jeff

 

[Chris09]

If you fell the need to add heat to your coop why not use something meant to be use as a heat source around livestock? Either a Livestock Infrared Heavy Duty Heat Bulb or a Ceramic Heat Bulb if used correctly is far safer and better to use.

Heavy Duty Hard Glass Infrared Heat Bulb --

Ceramic Heat Bulb --

Chris

 

[catdaddyfro]

If you fell the need to add heat to your coop why not use something meant to be use as a heat source around livestock? Either a Livestock Infrared Heavy Duty Heat Bulb or a Ceramic Heat Bulb if used correctly is far safer and better to use.

Heavy Duty Hard Glass Infrared Heat Bulb --

Ceramic Heat Bulb --

Chris

I agree Chris I don't have to add any heat here in the deep south but if I did I'd use a proper bulb or heat source though. Those rough service bulbs are made for use in a drop light (like a mechanic would use)


I hope that the most important word in the article I posted would be taken as serious and not for granted CONFINED has more to do with the death of those animals than the noxious gasses. I'm sure if it could have escaped out with the normal action heat takes which is up/out through ventilation, then I'm sure a lot of loss could have been avoided in the first place. No matter how cold it is outside, if a living creature can't get fresh oxygenin and CO2 out it will surely stifle to death, along with stale air and possibly the fumes from this silicone coating I'd figure they didn't have much of a chance.

Jeff

 

[NanaKat]

When I raised Lovebirds I was told that even cooking with Teflon coated pots and pans would emmit the gasses into the air in the house..even with CH&A unit.
Some birds are more susceptible to the gasses....especially young birds.
The gas is strongest when the bulb first begins to heat up but permeates the zone quickly.
I simply would not use those bulbs.

 

[Chris09]

Jiff I agree,

Shoot Jiff I live in North East Ohio and I don't heat my coops. It would take a lot of light bulbs to heat my 480 cf breeding pens to above freezing in the dead of winter.


Chris

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Teflon fumes can still be a problem even with ventilation - especially in a brooder where the lights are relatively close to the chicks. I know people who have lost parrots from PTFE fumes when the birds were several rooms away from the kitchen. Granted those were teflon cookware fumes, not light bulbs, but it's the same toxic gas. Birds are ultra-sensitive to it. I wouldn't risk it in a brooder.

When I first heard about this PTFE fume issue 15-20 years ago the Teflon cookware folks wouldn't even acknowledge there was a problem. Now they put warnings on the cookware. It's in tiny print and it comes after all the "nontoxic" statements, but most of the PTFE cookware labels now admit that the fumes will kill birds if the cookware is overheated. Maybe they'll start labeling the lightbulbs, too. BTW, "overheated" isn't all that hot. I think the fumes kick in around 450* F in the cookware. Not sure about the lightbulbs.

Speaking of heat sources, does anyone have a good source for ceramic heat bulbs? I need some backups and my old supplier no longer exists.

Sarah