Sanitizing the Coop - Ultimate

[aart]

It was not poultry approved it was just a heat bulb. I had no idea until yesterday when I read the article on BYC.

Do you still have the package the light bulb came in?

If it was teflon fumigation, no need to sanitize the coop.

 

[lmdengler]

I said to my husband everyone keeps saying about ventilation. Here are pics of the eve under the overhang on the outside and pics of the inside as well. The walls on the inside at the top are open to the outside and at the peak there’re are holes. Does this make sense?

 

[lmdengler]

Do you still have the package the light bulb came in?

If it was teflon fumigation, no need to sanitize the coop.

I don’t but I went to Lowe’s and found the package so I plan to google it.

 

[lmdengler]

Do you still have the package the light bulb came in?

If it was teflon fumigation, no need to sanitize the coop.

Do you still have the package the light bulb came in?

If it was teflon fumigation, no need to sanitize the coop.

I found the bulb online - it’s confirmed - it had a Teflon coating. It’s a group of bulbs by GE. I killed my chickens. I am going to write a list of all the things you don’t do in the first year or having chickens . I feel like chickens are my new “potted plants” . Well my remaining birds hopefully will be ok.

 

[aart]

Such a shame...innocent mistake, no less heartbreaking tho.

I assume you saw these, after the fact, to hep solve your mystery deaths?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...not-attacked-update-teflon-poisoning.1215065/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/polytetrafluoroethylene-toxicity-in-chickens.73482/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/teflon-coated-heat-lamps-killing-birds.1215088/

 

[lmdengler]

The Teflon posting in BYC was how on stumbled onto it. Had I not noticed that article and read it - it would have never occurred to me. My poor poor girls. I hope they didn’t have to much pain. While I will never know for certain if that’s what it was since I didn’t do a necropsy- I have learned yet another fact about Chicken raising. I BTW do not hold the bulb manufacturer responsible- the reason for the Teflon is for safety and the bulb is not meant to be used for keeping poultry warm. I do understand however that it’s important to keep informed. That said I started reading about the dangers of Teflon - and as for me - I am getting rid of it wherever I can. Wow is it toxic!

 

[aart]

While I will never know for certain if that’s what it was since I didn’t do a necropsy

Not sure a necropsy would have confirmed.

While you haven't posted your coop configuration, or the exact ages/acquisition of birds, and timeline of deaths in relation to when you used the heat bulb...
...it's a pretty fair chance that is what caused the deaths.

 

[jthornton]

I said to my husband everyone keeps saying about ventilation. Here are pics of the eve under the overhang on the outside and pics of the inside as well. The walls on the inside at the top are open to the outside and at the peak there’re are holes. Does this make sense?

That's not enough ventilation for one bird, think 1 square foot of draft free ventilation per bird. You need to install some gable vents ie. hardware cloth the gables.

JT

 

[lazy gardener]

The eave vents are a good starting place, but your ventilation needs to be in more than one area. Think of it this way, when you open a single window in your house, you get a bit of fresh air in that one room. But, if you open an other window at the other end, you now get a breeze that goes THROUGH the house. Your goal with ventilation in your coop is to have air moving through, while not causing a draft on the birds as they roost at night. My 10 x 12 coop has 23 s.f. of ventilation including 3 windows, 2 soffit, 2 eave, and a floor level vent. That floor vent is very important IMO b/c it takes advantage of natural air flow. Heat rises. Cold air enters at the bottom, and as it rises through the coop, it picks up extra moisture and ammonia and carries it up to exit through upper level vents. IMO, windows are very important also. Birds enjoy the natural lighting and ventilation they provide.

 

[lmdengler]

The eave vents are a good starting place, but your ventilation needs to be in more than one area. Think of it this way, when you open a single window in your house, you get a bit of fresh air in that one room. But, if you open an other window at the other end, you now get a breeze that goes THROUGH the house. Your goal with ventilation in your coop is to have air moving through, while not causing a draft on the birds as they roost at night. My 10 x 12 coop has 23 s.f. of ventilation including 3 windows, 2 soffit, 2 eave, and a floor level vent. That floor vent is very important IMO b/c it takes advantage of natural air flow. Heat rises. Cold air enters at the bottom, and as it rises through the coop, it picks up extra moisture and ammonia and carries it up to exit through upper level vents. IMO, windows are very important also. Birds enjoy the natural lighting and ventilation they provide.

I have a window that is "Roost High" and a hatch door at the floor. The window is closed but the hatch is open. None of the walls go to the ceiling - they are all open to the "outside". Does that help describe it? Thanks BTW for all your help. I appreciate it.