My coop caught on fire!! *Pics added in Post 15*

[ssbs]

Quote:
Whoa! Don't kerosene heaters produce carbon monoxide exhaust? Chickens like all birds have very efficient, sensitive respiratory systems. I'd be worried about killing my whole flock from the toxic exhaust from one of those heaters set up inside a coop.

That is what I thought!


As far as lights go, I also use christmas lights. They are designed to be on for long periods, and they are safe in the rain. They also produce very little heat.

Some of the older folks on my area keep their christmas lights up year-round so I knew having a sting in my quail cage would be fine.

 

[wolftracks]

I remember last year, someone in here had lost their entire brooder shed and most of their chicks to a fire. I cried like it was my own birds.

My husband had hooked up lighting for me last year, but without him, this year I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Different house, coops and flocks. Might be cool to have christmas light though.

 

[Kat's Silly Chickens]

Well ours are use to having a light on, since we have the now 1 w/o's on the sunroom porch with them.
If we can figure a way to get electricity to our barn/coop at the back of our property we might just put up Christmas lights. Our birds are entertaining and only 4 will be in the coop for now, they are the 2 BR and 2 Cochins. When our Unknown chick gets old enough it will go out with them.

 

[woodmort]

Whoa to all you people!!! If your chickens are feathered out YOU DO NOT NEED HEAT!!!!!! Leave your heat lamps, kerosene heaters, heat plates, whatever, out of the chicken coop. Just make a good solid coop with ventilation along the roof line so the birds aren't in a draft and they will be good to go all winter. Why risk them to fire to try to give them something they are just as well off without??? If there is ever a case of being overprotective and hurting those you're trying to protect--this is it.
'Nuf said.

 

[PhlyinPheBee]

Quote:
That is what I use in my coop. I use a 60 watt fluorescent bulb. It only comes on at 4am to 8am. I am sooooooo glad that your chickens are OK!!!

 

[Kat's Silly Chickens]

Quote:
No problem Larry,
We won't be putting any heat in our coop. I was just now thinking on a little light in the evening, I go outside every 2 hours to have a cig up until 1am and I will check on them at those times. A little light to see them would be nice but I can carry a flash light also.
Our barn/coop is at the back left corner of our .87 acre and it's very dark back there. If I wanted to put up Christmas lights it would be on the outside of the exterior run, not inside the coop. And only to see that there are no predators around the coop.

Thank you for your advice Larry, I will listen.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I think I should link to examples like this in the next newsletter so everyone can get a reminder of how important it is to be with lighting (in coops, brooders, etc.)

 

[TreeHugger]

Wow! I stopped hanging heat lights in my coop a few years back over the fear of it burning down. I use an electric water heater in the winter but it is set on bricks up off the floor.

I'm glad to hear your birds are OK and the coop is still useable!

 

[swimmer]

Woodmort is right. Keep the drafts out and they will fine.
For light I found a very short string of Christmas lights in my basement. I'm thinking they are 5 feet long. Hung them up at the top of the coop and my dh put a timer in an outdoor socket box away from the dust and curious chickens. I'll try and remember to take a picture tomorrow.

 

[PineappleMama]

I thought about this... not for temperature but just light.

The scary bulb fire stories made me lean to Christmas Lights.

But then got to thinking if it isn't for heat then why do they HAVE to be in the coop?
Why couldn't I just put the lights around the coop or even around the aviary?

DH could turn them on when he leaves for work in the morning, 7am.
I can turn them off when I'm human (aka caffeinated) a bit later, add in a little extra 'daylight'.
And then same in the evening... DH comes home appx 5:30... turn them on then/there abouts...
Turn them off once an extra hour of 'daylight' or so has been squeezed in.

Plus I LIKE having Christmas lights up in the backyard... had them before, planned to again, just because they're neat and give good, but not glaring, light to hang out in the back to.

*shrug* It's a theory.