Do chickens need dark to lay eggs.

[Mflood]

Our bulb is 125 watt, so it makes the coop about 20 degrees warmer than the outside, so won't they still have time to grow adequate feathers? They spend most of the day outside and just go in at night, where they huddle and shiver on the roost. That is what made us decide to use the heat lamp....I'm really confused about what to do now. Could we leave the lamp in there and only use it on nights when it is 30 degrees or below?

 

[aart]

No need for a heat light/lamp ever really(except chicks of course)....or unless you have those tiny Seremas.
I'm in SW Mich too and my birds were fine without heat all during last winters frigid temps.
Seriously they'll be fine, they are just fluffing up their feathers, perfectly normal.

Read the links on my other post in this thread.

 

[Crow hop]

Watts = Volt x Amps
A dimmer reduces the volts and in doing so reduces your watts which reduces your BTUs.
Giving less heat....
I am going to mount a resistor in mine so I can heat it without light.

 

[vehve]

Watts = Volt x Amps
A dimmer reduces the volts and in doing so reduces your watts which reduces your BTUs.
Giving less heat....
I am going to mount a resistor in mine so I can heat it without light.

Just get a ceramic bulb, a lot safer than jury rigging something.

 

[Crow hop]

Resistors are safer than bulbs. At least from my stand point. They don't burn out or explode.
Also, many different wattages to choose from and even variable resistors ......1watt being equal to 3.14 BTU. I have seen them used in well houses to keep stuff from freezing up.

 

[appps]

Just get a ceramic bulb, a lot safer than jury rigging something.

Only safer in a ceramic lamp holder, if you put it in a regular plastic one it can melt and cause a fire. So if anyone does that make sure that's what you are using.

 

[vehve]

Well yeah, use a housing that's meant for heat lamps.

 

[appps]

Well yeah, use a housing that's meant for heat lamps.

Sorry know that sounds glaringly obvious to most of us lol but used to hang out on a hermit crab forum and you would be amazed how many people just never gave that a thought, folks can amaze you sometimes so just thought I better add the disclaimer lol

 

[vehve]

Quote: Yeah, some people don't quite appreciate the potential dangers of dodgy electrical work.

 

[aart]

No doubt, any heat 'bulb' should be in a ceramic socketed fixture.

@vehve @appps
Are the ceramic bulbs you are talking about the kind used for reptiles?
Do you think that a ceramic bulb would provide the kind of heat that this OP is talking about?
To keep coop (shivering? chickens) warm and water liquid?

Let's help this new chicken keeper learn about how to get their birds thru a cold winter.