Heat Lamp started fire! Warning!! Learn from my mistake!

[chookchick]

So sorry to hear this, but thanks for sharing your story, and know that by sharing, I am sure you have saved someone else heartache as well as a few chicken lives.....

Remember everyone--9 times out of 10 you DON'T need extra heat!, and if you do, you can provide it much more safely with lower wattage bulbs or other heat methods. DON'T put a high wattage heat bulb in your coop! Too many of these sad stories...

 

[shay20]

Ok, now i am going to go check on mine.

 

[greenbeandreams]

Oh no! I'm so sorry. Headed outside to check on ours.

 

[joletabey]

I am SO sorry for your loss - thanks for thinking to warn people!

 

[Mahonri]

I am going to use WIRE from a hanger to be certain that a zip tie can't melt and a clamp come lose.

This has always been one of my fears with my brooder lamps.

Thanks for the warning and

SORRY for your loss. What a heartbreak.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

So very sorry for your loss. I use a screw on each side so the clamp can not go over it. The little turds are pretty darn active in the coop and YES, this sort of thing really does happen.

 

[Mailpouch]

So sorry for your loss Stacy. Mine is secure but going out tomorrow morning and double checking.

 

[The Chicken People]

Sorry for your loss!

 

[Tala]

I never have been able to get those clamps to hold up anything. I never realized how many people actually USE them.

There are usually some ventilation holes around the base of the light socket -- through which I thread a high-temp zip tie or wire to make a loop, and from that I usually attach a two-ended spring hook (like for dog leashes?) to hold the light up. Today I found some poop on the top of the light reflector. (the light hangs above the roost!) NO idea how that got there!!!

 

[chickenlips1954]

I'm so sorry! I know exactly how you feel because my coop burned down today too, while I was at work :-( I'm assuming it started from a 125w heat lamp clamped to a pipe running across the ceiling. I'm guessing one of the banties flew up and hit it knocking it down into the straw. A neighbor noticed the fire smell, but was too late to save the coop. He did call and tell my DH that the banties made it out safe and sound and were still in the chicken yard. Luckily we have a larger coop for my 23 full size hens and 2 roos (one banty and one small reg. roo), so we were able to catch the 5 banty hens and one banty roo and put them in there. The banty roo (in with the big girls) was NOT pleased to have another roo in his hen house, so there was alot of sparring, but I hope they work it out and don't hurt each other. I don't have anywhere else to put the banties til we can rebuild in the spring. Once again, I'm so sorry you lost both your coop and your girls!!!