@pipdzipdnreadytogo , thanks for your second post. That's more the tone I think we should be looking for here. When we are upset (including worrying about our feathered friends), that's not the best time to post anything online, on any subject. We've all probably been guilty of it (except my friend Emily, who is a saint and has never said a bad thing about anything or anyone in her life--I don't know how she does it!).
We have a setup that allows us to safely use 250W bulbs for now. The girls would have to be very athletically skilled to get dust up on the bulb in the henhouse during winter. It's basically at ceiling height and doesn't touch any wood except for the clamp (the reflector edge just barely touches hardware cloth). I was pretty surprised how clean it was when we removed it for the year, but that's a function of how our particular coop is built. Also, we have a great pole for attaching and sliding the fixture over our brooder in the garage. A bulb burned out once (I heard it pop), but it did not break. I'm home almost all the time, so things like that don't go unnoticed very long, especially when it comes to chicks, so they did not get chilled.
I know they get hellaciously hot, but we have been dumb enough to raise chicks during the winter once (now cured!), and we needed it. We have never had it closer than 3' from the chicks, and we always observed them to see if they need the spacing adjusted. And yes, I have been burned by a 250W bulb, too. That's why I'd love to have a Sweeter Heater for the henhouse, which is like a giant
Brinsea EcoGlow that utilizes a different type of heat than any bulb (250W or 60W) and is as safe as any heater can be. We love our EcoGlow for up to about 10 chicks, but they outgrow that pretty quickly. I'm glad they are making bigger ones now that can also be adjusted for more height, so you get more use out of it. The babies absolutely love it, and it is unquestionably safer than any light bulb or heat lamp. It is actually also energy efficient, using only about 1/10th the energy as a 250W bulb. I know a lot of people mention using 60W bulbs, and that would definitely work if it is close enough, but it isn't necessarily any safer (just smaller).
Speaking of fires, we are getting quite a light show from the storm coming this way soon. I worry more about lightning fires than heating fires. That's the most common cause of fires in my area for houses and barns. My grandparents lost three barns to lightning fires during their lifetime. My grandmother was severely burned (3rd degree, right arm, neck, and face) rescuing a mule, but that's what we do for our animals.
I hope that your little Wibbles will be on the mend soon. It sucks to have a bird under the weather. I appreciated the suggestions I received here for my impacted hen, which is now 100% recovered. Duckies are darling. My friend Leigh has a couple of drakes (a Swedish Blue and something I can never remember), but NO chickens. I need to fix that!
Have a good night. It's all good.
