Heating lamp question

[RonP]

Sure sounds like frostbite.

How about sharing some information about your coop size and ventilation in your coop.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[CarolineVT]

My hen house is 3' wide x 3' tall x 4' long (approx.) I used a 100 watt bulb on a timer in there last winter, but when it burned out I could only find 60 watt (incandescent). They have six holes which are about 4'' (egg-shaped, of course!), three on each end. We covered them up about half way or more last winter. There was zero condensation in the hen house.

This year I thought I'd go with a heat lamp, but I am paranoid of fire.

Last winter in Vermont was a bit colder than usual.

Thanks!

~ Caroline

 

[lazy gardener]

The issue with these little coops is that the perch puts them so close to the roof of the coop where the ventilation needs to be, so it's impossible for them to get the ventilation they need without it blowing directly on their faces while they are on the perches. Also, their faces may be too close to the wall/ceiling so their breath vaporizes and freezes, creating the perfect environment for frost bite. And, if the perch is not wide enough so they can stand on it with foot flat, they are at risk of frost bite, and loosing some toes there as well. This coop is way too small for a heat lamp. I'd also question if even your 60W bulb produced too much heat.

 

[RonP]

This year I thought I'd go with a heat lamp, but I am paranoid of fire.


Thanks!

~ Caroline

There is a wealth of information on heat lamp related fires.