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

[Ruralhideaway]

Someone will know... could we get the heads up about Teflon and specifically food service bulbs stickied somewhere?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm so very sorry

It sounds like you have found the culprit.
Nice investigative work everyone.

If there is any way to bring in the remaining birds that would be a good idea. If not, then open your coop windows and doors to let in some fresh air. It's hard to know what else to do for them except get them air.

If they need to remain in the coop, get a couple of heating pads that don't have an automatic shutoff (like people use to brood chicks). Cover the heating pads with an old towel and place your chickens on them. Stressed/sick chickens need to be kept warm - they have a hard time regulating body temperature.
Offer fresh warmish water with electrolytes.

When everything gets settled down, consider adding more ventilation to your coop - you mentioned you had frost inside on the windows - this means there is not enough airflow.
You can post photos of the inside and outside of the coop we will help you or you can ask on the coop forums.

Please keep us posted.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Could you post a picture of the bulb and packaging to warn others please? We don't want this happening again!
And please look into adding more ventilation to the coop.
Again, so sorry this happened to your birds!

Yes, the good news for most is that it's a commercial product so wouldn't be sold in a regular store. What makes me feel exceedingly stupid is that there was a warning on the box that I never even looked at.

 

[BYC910]

She's breathing clean air now so at least she has a chance. So heartbreaking.
@BYC910 I just buy reptile bulbs or those sold at tractor supply marketed for birds. Actually I only but reptile bulbs that say for birds on the box.

I get TSC bulbs too .But have at times got from home depot and walmart . Teflon fumes aren't safe for anything living to breath . I'm shocked that anyone would think it safe to coat a heat lamp with and get UL safety stamp

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Someone will know... could we get the heads up about Teflon and specifically food service bulbs stickied somewhere?

Info about the Teflon really does need to be stickied somewhere or featured - admin and/or staff have to create stickies, so maybe @DuckLady or @TwoCrows can help with that.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

@AaronandAlice Really though, no one reads labels on commonly used items. I would be thinking the same, that I should have. But I would be wrong. Human safe, so who would know. Not your fault. Really!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Info about the Teflon really does need to be stickied somewhere or featured - admin and/or staff have to create stickies, so maybe @DuckLady or @TwoCrows can help with that.

This is such a sad thing but being able to get the info available here at BYC where so many come to learn would be slightly comforting maybe.

 

[AaronandAlice]

 

[lazy gardener]

Heat lamp: could be teflon coated. Sorry. I'm late to this thread, but this is my thought the minute OP stated that there was a heat lamp involved.

For future: I'm also in Maine, and there is no frost inside the windows of my coop. Also no heat provided. Ventilation is a must, no matter the time of year. Also, 32 s.f. is only big enough for 8 birds. Putting more birds in that space increases the amount of moisture. Which increases ammonia and frost bite issues.

So very sorry about the loss.

 

[TexasSam]

@AaronandAlice Really though, no one reads labels on commonly used items. I would be thinking the same, that I should have. But I would be wrong. Human safe, so who would know. Not your fault. Really!

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