It’s REALLY cold here ... supplemental heat?

[Blooms&Brood]

What led to this is my DD loves a certain runt favorelle rooster that missed the recent cull. During free ranging time, he started to get some frost bite on his 5th toe and black flecks in his comb. He also developed a limp and would shiver terribly. I promptly applied coconut oil to everyone's combs and wattle and ushered everyone back into the coop where my husband vey securely installed the heat lamp.

My birds also stopped eating well when the cold snap hit. In their defense, it went from 60's to below freezing in a single day. They are eating great now.

 

[junebuggena]

What led to this is my DD loves a certain runt favorelle rooster that missed the recent cull. During free ranging time, he started to get some frost bite on his 5th toe and black flecks in his comb. He also developed a limp and would shiver terribly. I promptly applied coconut oil to everyone's combs and wattle and ushered everyone back into the coop where my husband vey securely installed the heat lamp.

My birds also stopped eating well when the cold snap hit. In their defense, it went from 60's to below freezing in a single day. They are eating great now.

That really is a huge drop, and in that situation, they definitely needed some extra heat.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Make sure your heat lamp is about 30"

I suggest attaching a safety chain after mounting.

 

[Welshies]

I suggest attaching a safety chain after mounting.

That's what I do, but with rope and bungee cords. Never know when your birds might almost knock it down.

 

[red horse ranch]

I suggest attaching a safety chain after mounting.

I have mine wired 2 different ways to the wall in addition to the hook. With guineas flying around inside the henhouse I don't take any chances

 

[Welshies]

I have mine wired 2 different ways to the wall in addition to the hook. With guineas flying around inside the henhouse I don't take any chances

Even with chickens I won't. I believe that at least half of the "heat lamp started" fires are from heat lamps falling and laying on bedding. Of course, when you approach your coop to find the aftermath, you have no way of knowing how it started, just what started it.

 

[Blooms&Brood]

I use the bump my head test on the heat lamp. If I can keep bumping it and it doesn't fall down, musta secured it ok.

Seriously though, make sure to use a heat lamp with a cage over the bulb.

 

[Welshies]

Seriously though, make sure to use a heat lamp with a cage over the bulb.

x2

 

[Hokum Coco]

Seriously though, make sure to use a heat lamp with a cage over the bulb.

Yes this will help when the lamp first falls. Add scratching chickens into the equation in the bedding and things can turn sour in a heart beat.

SAFETY CHAIN AFTER MOUNTING IS STILL THE WAY TO GO !!

 

[Blooms&Brood]

I think there is more than one way to secure a heat lamp if needed. Everyone's setup is different as well. My lamp is probably 48" from the TOP of the 12" deep litter floor. Some would say it's a waste, because I am still fighting a bit of frost bite on the roo's comb, but it's not about making them crazy comfortable as much as using it for their survival since i have a large coop and few birds. We are also expecting below -17 tonight, who knows what the wind chill will be.

Our heat lamp cord is ran and secured through the coops rafters, out the roof overhang of the coop and wrapped through the tall chainlink fence until it reaches the outlet at side of our house. In addition, the heat lamp has a cage and is screwed into the center beam.

We purposely DID NOT hang the heat lamp above the roosting bars and I notice my birds will bed down together in the center of the coop under the lamp.