Exploding Heat Lamp

[Kraeuterelfe]

Hi!

This morning between 8 am and noon our heat lamp exploded in the baby chick coop, shattered in numerous small and big pieces.

Luckily I couldn't find any visible injuries - no cuts no burns, but the temperature in the coop dropped to 69 and the babies are only 10 days old.

The 125 Watt/120 Volt infrared heat lamp was purchased at Big 'R' from DDI inc. and still far away from the promised 5000 hour average life.

I do not even wanna think about what could have happened......the whole coop including the chicks could have burned down including garage and house.........

Now I am very concerned about the safety!

Does anybody have great/not so good experiences with heat lamps? Any recommendations? What companies to stay away from?

Thanks!

 

[popsicle]

That situations is exactly why I will be getting one of those Brinsea brooders this spring. It runs at 18 watts and is not a fire hazard.

 

[Me & Jack]

That situations is exactly why I will be getting one of those Brinsea brooders this spring. It runs at 18 watts and is not a fire hazard.

We had a heat lamp fall onto our brooder and actually caught fire to part of the cover. The brooder was in the house and could have burned down our home if not for the fact that we were here at the time and smelled the smoke. I immediately ordered the Brinsea brooder and have used it ever since. The drawback to using it is I don't think it's warm enough for day-old or weaker chicks. They seem to chirp a lot the first day or two. But, once they get big enough to fit closer to the heated underside it seems a little too good because they hardly come out from under the thing and I miss being able to watch them hop around. Still, I no longer worry about the house burning to the ground. That was scary!

 

[jojomojo]

We had a heat lamp fall onto our brooder and actually caught fire to part of the cover. The brooder was in the house and could have burned down our home if not for the fact that we were here at the time and smelled the smoke. I immediately ordered the Brinsea brooder and have used it ever since. The drawback to using it is I don't think it's warm enough for day-old or weaker chicks. They seem to chirp a lot the first day or two. But, once they get big enough to fit closer to the heated underside it seems a little too good because they hardly come out from under the thing and I miss being able to watch them hop around. Still, I no longer worry about the house burning to the ground. That was scary!

Same here! I got the smaller one after setting up a heat bulb and not being able to sleep at night (bit of an anxiety problem here lol). If we ever outgrow the 20, I'll definitely get the 50

To get the heat platform closer to chicks, you could nestle the "feet" a little deeper in the bedding or push some extra bedding under it.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I suspect it somehow came in contact with a drop of water

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I had a heat lamp bulb explode when I had it outside under a tarp when it was raining.

Now I only use from one to three 100 watt bulbs (three in very cold weather) and I check temps under the lights to titrate the heat accordingly. I feel the 100 watt bulbs are safer. I hang the lamps with metal wire at least two ways, not including the clamp to ensure it can endure flying chicken episodes.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote: Any bulb can shatter if hit by a drop of water while burning
The thermal shock causes the glass to break

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:

Any bulb can shatter if hit by a drop of water while burning
The thermal shock causes the glass to break

This is true!

 

[The Lazy L]

That situations is exactly why I will be getting one of those Brinsea brooders this spring. It runs at 18 watts and is not a fire hazard.

Agreed 100%

Brinsea is what I used, NO fire hazard and plus electric bill..

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Has anyone tried one of those sweeter heaters?
http://www.sweeterheater.com/