- Mar 30, 2011
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My coop is 4 feet by 5 feet by 6feet tall. I have a rooster who has a large comb which is looking frostbitten. It is to be about 0 to 5 degrees F the next several nights.
I have considered installing a 125 watt heat lamp in the coop to help keep his comb warmer. I can't go any higher wattage than that for fear of popping the cicuit, and the store sells 125 watt heat lamps in clear only, not in red. The red is said to be less glaring on the chickens at night, helping them sleep better.
I have 4 hens, and they have not laid eggs since early November, since the coop has not been lit. Would it shock the hens were I to install the heat lamp now, in the middle of winter, making them start laying? The store was out of oystershell, which they might need if they were suddenly provoked into laying by the heat light?
I also read that making hens lay in cold climates in the winter with artificial lighting can be very taxing on their bodies and make them sick. It is thought it might be best to give them a rest during the winter months.
I also read that an artificial light can be dangerous if it goes off in the evenings when they are trying to get on their roosts and can't see how to jump up there.
It sounds like there are a lot of drawbacks to the bright heat lamps. What do you think? Would it protect the rooster's comb enough to justify using it for just a few days. Or could the few days trigger the hens' into a laying cycle, at which time removing the light suddenly (if it warms up), could cause the hens to have health problems?
I do worry about fire danger, as well.
The stores are all out of the bales of pine shavings I was hoping to put around the coop for insulation, and they don't know when more will arrive. It seems they don't keep supplies well stocked, which is quite frustrating. No oystershell, no pine shavings, no ired lights in 125 wattage. My poor chickens!
I have considered installing a 125 watt heat lamp in the coop to help keep his comb warmer. I can't go any higher wattage than that for fear of popping the cicuit, and the store sells 125 watt heat lamps in clear only, not in red. The red is said to be less glaring on the chickens at night, helping them sleep better.
I have 4 hens, and they have not laid eggs since early November, since the coop has not been lit. Would it shock the hens were I to install the heat lamp now, in the middle of winter, making them start laying? The store was out of oystershell, which they might need if they were suddenly provoked into laying by the heat light?
I also read that making hens lay in cold climates in the winter with artificial lighting can be very taxing on their bodies and make them sick. It is thought it might be best to give them a rest during the winter months.
I also read that an artificial light can be dangerous if it goes off in the evenings when they are trying to get on their roosts and can't see how to jump up there.
It sounds like there are a lot of drawbacks to the bright heat lamps. What do you think? Would it protect the rooster's comb enough to justify using it for just a few days. Or could the few days trigger the hens' into a laying cycle, at which time removing the light suddenly (if it warms up), could cause the hens to have health problems?
I do worry about fire danger, as well.
The stores are all out of the bales of pine shavings I was hoping to put around the coop for insulation, and they don't know when more will arrive. It seems they don't keep supplies well stocked, which is quite frustrating. No oystershell, no pine shavings, no ired lights in 125 wattage. My poor chickens!
