Heat lamps in the coop?

[Fair Wheaten]

We just got 4 new chickens, but we already had 2 pullets. They are somewhere around 10 weeks old. We've had a heat lamp in the coop for them, but will that bother the new chickens? Should we be turning off all the lights at night?

I don't want to stress our chickens out, but I don't want the babies to freeze either! It's getting close to freezing weather around here, and I just want to be sure they've feathered out enough. They look like they probably have, but I'd rather take the advice of people who know what they are doing!

Any thoughts?

T

 

[Just-Like-Hatching]

They will adjust to the light. I am just a chicken when it comes to lights in the coop unless they are properly installed and protected. Lots of coops burn down from heat lamps every year.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

At 10 weeks they should be fully feathered and be fine without the lamp. It probably would be best to take it away now and let them adjust to the temps as they lower rather than keep it on for a while longer and then plunge them into the cold.

 

[Lee]

Quote:
Yes, agree to that!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yes, agree to that!

So do I! Chickens come already dressed in their own down coats. Heating is not necessary for fully feathered birds.

 

[jjthink]

There are many threads lately that get into the heat/no heat thing so I'll just address your question. If you choose to have heat, you needn't also have light. Ceramic heat lamps provide heat, no light. Light problem thus solved.
JJ

 

[Lee]

And here is an idea for you at www.shopthecoop.com. A flat panel wall heater called an ECO-heater.

 

[Fair Wheaten]

Thanks guys! We're going to go ahead and take the lamp out today. We'll get a timer for the actual light fixture, but the heat lamp's outta there!

T

 

[kalaim]

What do you use as a light source then? I'm afraid of putting light out there too, but I am wondering now if I should add some heat.

My son has a tortoise and we use the metal type dome lights with red heat lamps. Would that be ok to use outside?

 

[jubylives]

Quote:
Holy crap they have some way overpriced stuff. But I do like the flat panel heater. I may look into that as a heat solution to a small bathroom I'm remodeling that has no heat duct going to it. The thermocubes are $15-$20 elswhere.

Jeremy