Help! Broken Heat Lamp?

[flyladyrocks]

Hi there,

I am shaking all over and in tears. I think there is something wrong with my heat lamp. Yesterday afternoon the bulb burnt out after only 3 days. Then today as I was sitting watching my chicks antics, the bulb literally exploded! My poor babies! It looks Iike they are all okay. A little shaken up like me. I made a smaller brooder box out of a smaller rubbermaid container. I put my rice sock (sock with rice warmed up in microwave) in there which I did yesterday, they seem to love it - they all sit on it. I also have 2 desk lamps over them. I am trying my best to keep them warm. I have a massive migriane so I cannot drive until this thing passes. Thank God both times this happened during the day and night at night!

So I just need input from you veteran chicken people. It seems to me that it is the lamp. I kept thinking wow - the base and where the cord goes into the base sure seem awfully hot all the time - should those 2 parts be so hot I can barely touch them? I bought the lamp at tractor supply - when I called asking if I could exchange it they were trying to convince me that "sometimes that just happens" - 2 bulbs in less than 24 hours? I just think something is wrong with it - what do you all think?

When my head is better and I can drive, I am going to go to the local urban homesteading store and get a new lamp and bulb - that is where I got my chicks. (They were so nice when I called them in tears)! My hubby is a pretty convincing person, so I think I will have him go to Tractor Supply, I think he will be more likely to get a refund.

I appreciate any input you all have - thanks!

 

[gander007]

If it is hot you have a problem and fire should be the only thing you think about now ....

Replace the lamp .....

 

[AnitaElliott123]

Scary!! I think I would have had a heart attack. I have never heard of that happening...but I know it can happen with a reg. light bulb.

 

[flyladyrocks]

Thanks for the input - this lamp is history, regardless of whether they let us take it back!

I was not using regular bulbs. They were red heat lamp bulbs. I think I did just about have a heart attack. I am so thankful I was right there standing over them and could immediately scoop them all out! The what ifs just about make me sick.

The migraine is just about at a manageable level so I think I will be able to go get a new lamp and bulb soon.

 

[petalumapaul]

Sounds double terrible.
I'm glad your chicks are okay.
Migraines are just terrible.
I agree with the above, get a new lamp and heat bulb. Clean up the broken glass of course.

I'm sure the chicks will bring you lots of joy.

 

[evemfoster]

Incandescent light bulbs are super sensitive to vibration when the light is turned on. So if you bump the lamp or even the container the heat lamp is attached to is shaken the filament inside the bulb can break, blowing out the light.

I have found that if you clamp the light onto the box your chicks are placed in the chicks running about inside the container can shake the light enough to damage the filament.. Especially if they are startled.

I clamp the light to a table leg, wall or other handy object then set the chick box under the light. That helps prevent blow outs and also allows me to adjust the temperature inside the box by raising or lowering the light further than is possible when just clamping to the side of their box. Just remember to unplug the light before doing any adjustments.