heat lamp safety

[frankenchick]

What are some things one should do to make using heat lamps safer?

We have the clamp-on type with the porcelain base and the 250 watt bulb. We drove nails into the wall studs, then looped the clamps over them so that they can't slide down or pop off.

What else should be done?

 

[SweetLilRachy00]

Make sure that the chickens can't roost close enough to the bulb to catch fire. Make sure the bulb isn't close to anything to catch fire. Make sure the water can not turn the bulb, if splashed or flipped over. (Ask me how I know!)

 

[nccountrygirl]

I'll bite, how do you know?

 

[patandchickens]

Better to have a second thing they hang from too, independant of your first means of hanging the lamp. Like the emergency chains on a trailer, sorta. Just cuz you can't imagine something falling or getting knocked down doesn't meam it can't happen.

Also as a last bit of protection it's best to keep those two wire guards on, so it will not lie flat on the litter if it falls.

Being acquainted with too many barn fire stories from working with horses, though, I'd say the biggest safety measure for heat lamps is to use them only when absolutely necessary and unavoidable <shrug>


Pat

 

[spottedtail]

Yeah to what Pat said.
Only use them when there's positively no alternative.

We only use them for brooding chicks. That's with two independant chains screwed into studs.
And be sure the cord is fastened in such a way that it cannot fall on or near the heat.

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