Heat Lamp & Cold Weather

[aart]

took me almost an hour with baking soda to stop the bleeding

It's corn starch, or flour, that helps best with bleeders.

 

[ZoobysChicks]

Thanks for the input from everyone! I do have the lamps secured so as to not fall into the shavings and have KFC instead of eggs.. Regarding behavioral issues, we had a serious issue with one of our Blue Wyandottes. She went after an Isa and bit off half her comb, took me almost an hour with baking soda to stop the bleeding.. We moved her in a separate cage away from the others and is doing extremely well now and then moved her back in to the coop after several weeks. I put her back in with the other chicks and watched to see how they would interact and had to move the Wyandotte to the cage, away from the others, because we noticed she was bullying several of the chickens as well as the Isa again. I don't understand why, since we got all 8 chicks at the same time and they have all gotten along just fine, Never an issue. We moved them into the new coop about 2 months ago and started using the heat lamps in the last 40 days or so, so maybe the 24-7 light has created issued for them after all.

Wha wattage light bulb do you use?

 

[Tahai]

I agree with everyone else about the heat lamps. Not needed, especially with the breeds you have. Wild birds survive just fine, and they have less protection and feed than our chickens do. Humidity (created by heating a coop with a heat lamp) and wind blowing directly on them are the real enemies. (Ventilation is hugely important) I feed my hens scratch grains with corn in it on really cold days to help them stay warmer at night. (-20 is rare for me, but not unheard of. My temps in the winter go from 40's to negative teens on average - Usually sticking in the 20 to -15 range.) Getting rid of the lamps will also cut your electricity bill down.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Humidity (created by heating a coop with a heat lamp)

Where in the world did you hear this? Do you have any kind of science to back up this statement. I understand some people really hate heat lamps and will dream up all kinds of things to say against them but where does this come from?

 

[Mrs. K]

Well warm air holds more moisture?

As to the OP- don’t think warm, think dry. It seems counterintuitive as we spent our childhood hearing “shut the door you are letting the cold in.”

Most people(maybe not you) don’t just add heat, the close up the coop to trap the heat. That makes for damp chickens. Damp chicken are cold.

Each night from breath and manure a lot of moisture is released in the coop. Without a lot of ventilation that moisture collects on the ceiling and walls. Think of being in a car without heat, almost immediately the windows fog up. That is what you want to prevent. The shelter is from the wind, they themselves keep themselves warm.

Here (not this year) in SD we often get spells of negative 20. Mine are fine. We have reached -35, but that was just one night. I did worry a bit, but mine came through just fine in a dry coop. Deep bedding, protection from the wind is what you need.

Mrsvk

 

[Debbie292d]

Wha wattage light bulb do you use?

For a brooder? 100-watt ceramic reptile bulbs in a UL-approved holder, attached to a hook in the top with a dog chain.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well warm air holds more moisture?

Warmer air has a higher dew point, which means it can hold more moisture without raising the humidity. Humidity is the issue.

Warm air rises. Since it can hold more moisture it is helpful in removing moisture from the coop or brooder if ventilation is adequate.

The risk from high humidity is at least partially frostbite, which can only occur if the temperature is below freezing. Warmer air means less risk from frostbite. In a brooder frostbite should not be an issue anyway.

Another risk from higher humidity is condensation, getting the brooder or coop wet. If you don't have adequate ventilation you have issues anyway but a heat lamp is going to reduce the chances of condensation for most of us.

I totally agree warm air holds more moisture. To me, that is a benefit, not a harm. I am not suggesting that everyone should use heat lamps, I think many people should not even consider them. But in certain circumstances they can be a good solution. If you are going to assess what will work best for you I'd want to work with facts.