Red Light

[marymac]

I put a low watt bulb over my waterer to keep from freezing. I was wondering if anyone has ever tried painting a regular light bulb with red nail polish so as not to keep the chickens awake all night. Will it stay on and is it safe. I know nail polish dries to a hard enamel and I have lots of it, so it would be cheap for me if it works ok.

 

[bluey]

That could possibly be disastrous. I would not advocate doing that. The fire hazard, not to mention the smell it would probably generate would be nasty.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree with Bluey. I'd be afraid of the fumes from the nail polish and if it were to get hot enough to drip off the light and onto whoever or whatever happens to be underneath it.
A red bulb would be worth the investment.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The auto parts store has all colors of paint for engine blocks. We have been painting light bulbs with that for years to make effects. Never had an issue.

 

[nailjack]

Just at home depot. They are loaded with christmas decorations right now, and the red bulbs are running about 3 bucks

 

[mksenoj]

home depot

 

[waldeneffect]

Have you considered an Avian Aqua Miser?

My chickens will never drink dirty water again, and it's easy to take in at night to keep from freezing.

I sell em for cheap at my farm blog if you're interested.

http://waldeneffect.org/store/

 

[scandog]

I have 2 of the red heat bulbs with reflectors in my coop and the chickens seem to sleep just fine. One is pointed at the waterer just close enough to keep it from freezing and the other is aimed toward the roosting area to help take the chill off at night. I am getting almost a doz eggs from 16 birds every day. I would not mess with trying to paint a bulb. By the time you pay for the correct paint to handle the temps, you probably won't save anything.

 

[CityChook]

Here in the great white North, I don't think that Aqua Miser would work out very well. Before I plugged in the heated water dish, I could watch the fresh water freeze in the time it took me to put out feed, collect eggs and open their doors. I'm talk'n minutes. But I have to say, seeing a chicken drink from a hamster waterer spout is pretty funny.

I put a red light in my coop when the temps hit -0- and the chickens stayed up and partied all night. It was like a chicken rave. Naughty girls. I had to go out, tell them the party's over and turn it off. I'm using a ceramic heating bulb now and am fairly happy with it. Mild heat, no light. I wish it warmed up more, but it's better than nothing.

 

[kmom246]

I have a 40 watt red light that runs 24 hours in a 16 x 16 foot coop. The roosts are in the corners and are fairly dark. The chickies go in right before sundown and settle into their roosts about an hour later. Red light doesn't seem to bother them at all.