Heating Lamps for the Winter

[dalmation1080]

I know a lot of chicken owners will probbaly say that a heat lamp is un-needed and such. But ive lost a few birds to frostbite/cold weather before.

Anyway, I have built a brand new barn & chicken coop this year and im searching for a couple heat lamps to keep my chickens, ducks & peafowl a little warmer this winter. I have gotten some nice birds this year, and i dont want to loose them. Does anyone have any reccomendations for some heat lamps that i can put in my coop that are safe and wont catch fire (Biggest fear), but keep the birds comfortable?

 

[HEChicken]

If you are losing birds to frostbite/cold, I would look at your ventilation before adding heat lamps. When you built the new barn, were you keeping the need for ventilation in mind?

Heat lamps are going to add a fire risk, raise your electric bill, and make it harder for the birds to acclimate to the cold. Not to mention that when you have a power outage, you will lose birds who have grown reliant on the heat and never learned how to keep themselves warm.

Your profile doesn't say where you are located, but I know where I am we get some single digit and even below 0 days every winter, and my birds do fine. I know there are people living in Alaska who don't use supplemental heat for their birds, so I really would look at increasing your ventilation rather than taking the risk with heat lamps, if I were you.

 

[dalmation1080]

I have had plenty of ventilation in both of my coops and have still lost birds. Any heat lamp brand suggestions?

 

[CluckyCharms]

If you're adamant about heating...I would recommend this one:

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=18266&criteria=Heat+Lamp

It's not "fireproof" but it is a lot safer than most heatlamps are. I'll save the lecture.