Heat lamp & coop temperature

[Hokum Coco]

Who will be the first to have their coop burn down this year due to an electrical fire??? Extension cords, cold, water, light bulbs, heating devices, deep litter, and flying birds is a recipe for DISASTER.

 

[backyardcelia]

here's a twist...

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/Pet-chicken-alerts-couple-to-house-fire-184973051.html

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wiscon...n-family-to-house-fire-j086cjv-185058981.html

 

[Izzymoon]

Hokum, though I understand your concerns, I don't have ANY litter in my coop at all, I use PDZ on the floor. Only the nesting boxes have straw and they are on the opposite side from the lights, and enclosed. (They kick a litttle out but I clean it regularly so it doesn't cover the coop floor)

I use the same type system to put my christmas decorations out every year and haven't had a fire. Yes the system indeed needs refining, I'm not saying it is all good, and in the spring we will set to make an actual box outside the coop to house all the gadgets, as a temporary fix, I think it is ok. we're taking 4 hours for lights inside and constant light on the water, which is covered by a pan so no exposure to the actual light and water.

If I thought for one minute my girls were in danger I would change everything immediately, but I just don't feel it's necessary to worry too much.

 

[JackE]

No heat, No insulation, No extra light, Wide open front, No problems. When this pic was taken, it was right around 10 degrees. Look at where the chickens are, right up front, not huddled in the back freezing to death.
Jack

 

[backyardcelia]

jackE, that is a BEAUTY! what is the little square to the right of people door? and the wire to the front screen? isn't it drafty, or is there a interior wall dividing the loft area? it really is beautiful. what i have right now is pretty much a XL shoe box, and i just flip on the light for a few hours to get some of the dampness out after days of rain, or after a week of no sun.
but, i thought that most people did it to keep them/'fool them' into regular egg laying?
i am planning a walk in coop, and i think if i am honest with myself, the idea of electricity (and water) is more for me than the chickens! (i could see myself sitting inside with them and reading a book after a week of rain when they don't want to come out). but i don't know if i can make something as stunning as jack's! ....never mind reading a book, i could write a book in that coop!!!

 

[Wingstut]

I just bought a 150 watt ceramic screw in "bulb" heater and a thermo cube, on at 35, off at 45, that should keep them comfortable and keep their water from freezing. So far it's working fantastic in their 4' x 6' insulated coop.

 

[JackE]

jackE, that is a BEAUTY! what is the little square to the right of people door? and the wire to the front screen? isn't it drafty, or is there a interior wall dividing the loft area? it really is beautiful. what i have right now is pretty much a XL shoe box, and i just flip on the light for a few hours to get some of the dampness out after days of rain, or after a week of no sun.
but, i thought that most people did it to keep them/'fool them' into regular egg laying?
i am planning a walk in coop, and i think if i am honest with myself, the idea of electricity (and water) is more for me than the chickens! (i could see myself sitting inside with them and reading a book after a week of rain when they don't want to come out). but i don't know if i can make something as stunning as jack's! ....never mind reading a book, i could write a book in that coop!!!

Thanks,
The little square is some little metal sign my wife found and hung on the side of the coop. It has pretty much faded away, so you have to get close to see what it is. (A rooster sitting on a fence)
The coop is not drafty at all. In the winter all the other windows/ventilation are closed. You have, in the coop, what the original designer called, an air cushion. You still have big time fresh air exchange, but no drafts or any real air movement in the back of the coop where the roosts are. I actually have electricity run out to the coop. It powers up the electric fence, and the cookie tin water warmer. Below is an interior pic from the roost area, no inside walls, just an open view.
Jack

 

[Wingstut]

I just bought a 150 watt ceramic screw in "bulb" heater and a thermo cube, on at 35, off at 45, that should keep them comfortable and keep their water from freezing. So far it's working fantastic in their 4' x 6' insulated coop. I use a ceramic heater instead of a light bulb so they'll have "night". I'll put a light bulb (low watt) on a timer if egg production slows but it's Dec 31st and we're still getting the same production as summer (1 egg per chicken, per day, almost every day). We're in Ohio.

 

[Izzymoon]

beautiful coop jack! I love all the natural light

I realize that maybe giving light to get eggs to some is bad, but my girls just started laying in Nov. and if I want the eggs to be full size by spring to sell, I need them to grow, and the only way to do that is with artificial light. They are still only the size of a medium egg now. Also they are not going through a molt or anything, so I see no harm in pushing the envelope a little. They are only 8 months old now, so still have some growing to do.

 

[ozark hen]

We keep a 60 watt light bulb about a foot above the waterer (that sits on top a concrete block during winter when the temp is below 32') to keep the water from freezing but keep a large window open on the south side plus the two pop doors are open during daytime..one on east side and one on south side. Have shavings on the floor. Have done this for going on six years and never lost a chicken to the cold. they are very well insulated and seem to be healthier. I do give them some corn once a day during winter to build up the fat layer on them. Turn the shavings about once a week and add fresh shavings when I detect any odor at all. In the spring and fall I remove shavings from under the roosts and add fresh. My flock does quite well. Now mind you, if I hadn't read " how to" from the old timers on here I wouldn't have a had a clue. My thanks to the many on here who answer from experience