Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[lazy gardener]

Aaron, it was an honest mistake. Neither you or Alice should beat yourselves up. This issue raises the concern to me that teflon bulbs are sold and used. They may not be lethal to people, but, IMO the chicken, and the pet birds that they do kill are like the canaries in the coal mine. They alert us that there are invisible toxins being released by hot teflon.

 

[theoldchick]

Teflon inhalation has killed many pet birds in human houses.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Hello there... I am Alice's husband. I just want to say, that this was very much my fault. Although I did not know that a Teflon lamp would harm/kill chickens, I am the one who took the bulb out of the package and told her to use it to heat the coop. I have been servicing commercial food equipment for over 27 years now, and not once have I ever read the box that the lamps come out of. These are the very same bulbs that keep the wing bar food warm at your grocery stores.

The terrible scene in the coop I witnessed while Alice was posting with you folks last night, brought a wave of fear over me, that was confirmed as I read the lamp box. Although we had no idea, I feel responsible for this. It is our first time brooding chickens, and we went in with a lot of researching what needed to be done first. Nothing can prepare you for this. I just went through the posts, and see Alice taking the blame. I assured her it was ok to use the bulb, because it just produces heat. I am having a hard time accepting the result. Truly, I had never heard of any dangers of PTFE. I am sorry this even happened, but I am thankful you folks are comforting her. We will do what we can to revive the remaining 2 birds. The rooster actually seems unscathed by it all. Thank you for your support and friendship. It means a lot. Alice puts in 99% of the work everyday to keep them fed, warm, safe. I let her down. And that's the worst...

it was an accident as has been said, accidents happen dont beat yourself up over it, learn from it and move on, spread the word and keep going

and if you guys are close enough i can help with birds/eggs/hatching or help you find someone closer to you

like on here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/maine.1370/

 

[Kymberli Mundwiller]

I am SO SORRY this happened to you. So sorry.
We haven't got chickens yet, but I've learned something today. I know it's no consolation, but know that my heart breaks for you and I'm so glad you came here and ppl were so kind here.

One hen and the rooster made it through the night. The hen is on my lap at the moment and quite lethargic. The roo is lamenting the loss of his flock and crowed the whole time I was removing them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hello there... I am Alice's husband. I just want to say, that this was very much my fault. Although I did not know that a Teflon lamp would harm/kill chickens, I am the one who took the bulb out of the package and told her to use it to heat the coop. I have been servicing commercial food equipment for over 27 years now, and not once have I ever read the box that the lamps come out of. These are the very same bulbs that keep the wing bar food warm at your grocery stores.

The terrible scene in the coop I witnessed while Alice was posting with you folks last night, brought a wave of fear over me, that was confirmed as I read the lamp box. Although we had no idea, I feel responsible for this. It is our first time brooding chickens, and we went in with a lot of researching what needed to be done first. Nothing can prepare you for this. I just went through the posts, and see Alice taking the blame. I assured her it was ok to use the bulb, because it just produces heat. I am having a hard time accepting the result. Truly, I had never heard of any dangers of PTFE. I am sorry this even happened, but I am thankful you folks are comforting her. We will do what we can to revive the remaining 2 birds. The rooster actually seems unscathed by it all. Thank you for your support and friendship. It means a lot. Alice puts in 99% of the work everyday to keep them fed, warm, safe. I let her down. And that's the worst...

Seriously no blame toward you or your wife.
It nearly happened to me while I was setting up to order chicks. I found the info on a hatcheries site about it in 2011. I thought the entire bulb industry had stopped using Teflon.
It could have happened to just about any of us.

 

[AaronandAlice]

it was an accident as has been said, accidents happen dont beat yourself up over it, learn from it and move on, spread the word and keep going

and if you guys are close enough i can help with birds/eggs/hatching or help you find someone closer to you

like on here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/maine.1370/

We live in Casco, Maine- it's about 50 miles from Conway. Thank you for your offer. I had ordered these chicks from 'mypetchicken' and was given 2 more by a friend who didn't want 6 but had to take that many because they were a day old. We had 11 hens and one roo- now we have one roo. I was already looking at making a spring order. They were doing really well- we got 4-6 dozen eggs every week.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there... I am Alice's husband. I just want to say, that this was very much my fault. Although I did not know that a Teflon lamp would harm/kill chickens, I am the one who took the bulb out of the package and told her to use it to heat the coop. I have been servicing commercial food equipment for over 27 years now, and not once have I ever read the box that the lamps come out of. These are the very same bulbs that keep the wing bar food warm at your grocery stores.

The terrible scene in the coop I witnessed while Alice was posting with you folks last night, brought a wave of fear over me, that was confirmed as I read the lamp box. Although we had no idea, I feel responsible for this. It is our first time brooding chickens, and we went in with a lot of researching what needed to be done first. Nothing can prepare you for this. I just went through the posts, and see Alice taking the blame. I assured her it was ok to use the bulb, because it just produces heat. I am having a hard time accepting the result. Truly, I had never heard of any dangers of PTFE. I am sorry this even happened, but I am thankful you folks are comforting her. We will do what we can to revive the remaining 2 birds. The rooster actually seems unscathed by it all. Thank you for your support and friendship. It means a lot. Alice puts in 99% of the work everyday to keep them fed, warm, safe. I let her down. And that's the worst...

What everybody else has said here. It was a tragic accident for sure, however it wasn't your fault. Chickens don't come with a manual, we all learn as we go. How would anyone know a coating on a heat lamp could kill them! You were trying to do the right thing and unfortunately bad things happened. Don't be hard on yourself, lesson learned and continue on. Many blessings to you, I hope your heavy hearts heal soon.

 

[TwoCrows]

OH and how is your hen doing this afternoon?

 

[AaronandAlice]

Sadly, the hen passed while I was gone to get antibiotics. I don't know if chickens can vomit--but she had a thick brownish liquid in the box with her. Ugh- what a shi**y day. Will the rooster go mad by himself?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

We live in Casco, Maine- it's about 50 miles from Conway. Thank you for your offer. I had ordered these chicks from 'mypetchicken' and was given 2 more by a friend who didn't want 6 but had to take that many because they were a day old. We had 11 hens and one roo- now we have one roo. I was already looking at making a spring order. They were doing really well- we got 4-6 dozen eggs every week.

not far at all! my sister lives in conway