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

[GldnValleyHens]

How can you tell if you have a teflon-coated bulb? I'm nervous now! I have a red heat bulb in the coop from a farm store. How does it kill them? Only if it breaks?

 

[CapricornFarm]

The teflon ones are marked shatter resistant, and the box says do not use for poultry. If it was sold for birds it should be ok. The bad ones are used in workshop or food applications.

 

[AaronandAlice]

How can you tell if you have a teflon-coated bulb? I'm nervous now! I have a red heat bulb in the coop from a farm store. How does it kill them? Only if it breaks?

The one we had was meant for use in food service- I don't think they're sold as a regular product. This only took 7 hours total to kill 11 hens- if yours is already in use in your coop I'm sure it's fine.

 

[TwoCrows]

It may even say on top of the bulb if its Teflon coated or not? I have never seen one. Mine are very clear or clear red, no Teflon.

 

[TwoCrows]

How can you tell if you have a teflon-coated bulb? I'm nervous now! I have a red heat bulb in the coop from a farm store. How does it kill them? Only if it breaks?

It doesn't have to break, when the bulb gets hot the coating oozes a toxic gas which kills the birds.

 

[casportpony]

I don't know what temp the "official" poultry heat lamps get to. They are usually 150W or 250W right? I bet they get dangerously hot as well. Even a 100W incandescent (for the younger set ... when they were sold ) weren't something you wanted to touch with your hand or let anything flammable touch.

Thanks but no thanks, my birds can fluff and my chicks can have their Mama Heating Pad brooder cave.

I think regular 250w brooder bulbs will burn paper, and paper burns at 451 F I think.

 

[casportpony]

How can you tell if you have a teflon-coated bulb? I'm nervous now! I have a red heat bulb in the coop from a farm store. How does it kill them? Only if it breaks?

Does the top look clear or opaque? Clear is okay, opaque is coated.

 

[TwoCrows]

Does the top look clear or opaque? Clear is okay, opaque is coated.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Thank you all! I will study it carefully tomorrow. It would be terrible to have my chickens dies like poor OP's

 

[Bobby Basham]

Thank you all! I will study it carefully tomorrow. It would be terrible to have my chickens dies like poor OP's

Remember, Folks...the heat lamp was used in this case for keeping ADULT birds and space warm, not brooding chicks in smaller confinement.