Transferring my chickens into coop and fire hazard

[chicks13]

Hey, I'm planning on transferring my chickens into the coop over the weekend and I'm planning to put a heat lamp into the coop but I worry about the fire hazard. My heat lamp is 250 watts is it necessary to get a less wattage one or will it be ok? They are fully feathered and is a heat lamp even necessary?

 

[micstrachan]

No, probably not. How old are they and what are night time temperatures? You almost certainly do not need the lamp, and it poses a HUGE fire hazard.

 

[floppysquirrel04]

If they are fully feathered then they don’t need one now. Don’t put the light in their coop, as you said it’s a huge fire hazard.

 

[Alaskan Chicken QBJudie]

Hey, I'm planning on transferring my chickens into the coop over the weekend and I'm planning to put a heat lamp into the coop but I worry about the fire hazard. My heat lamp is 250 watts is it necessary to get a less wattage one or will it be ok? They are fully feathered and is a heat lamp even necessary?

How cold is it outside? If they are used to the light and warmth it might be a shock to suddenly get moved into New home where it's a lot colder than they are used too. Here in Alaska I keep heat lamp on them for well past the feathered stage but I've also traded it out for a 60 watt regular bulb then to a 40 watt so that the cold transition isn't too stressful. Regarding fire hazard on regular light bulbs main problem is bad plug end or extension cords being faulty. Plug in and position light fixture. (Place a safety rope or wire attached to light fixture and then attached to wall or roof. The safety is for in case fixture falls rope won't let it touch the ground) after having plugged in for over a hour or two go touch all the different plug ends even the starting outlet any excessive heat means fault in electrical line or cords. Good luck I was a younger fire loving pyro who realized I better learn more before I burned my house down. So I joined the local fire Department took many classes went from basic firefighter to attack certified firefighter and finally the certified engineer. Got a much better understanding of the dangers of many basic house fires . Mostly from outdated or mistakes made when being wired.

 

[chicks13]

This is my weather for the week. Should I still put some type of light in the coop? Also I heard that you leave the chickens in the coop for a week is that true?

 

[floppysquirrel04]

You don’t need it

 

[Angileen]

I think your chickens will be fine with out the heat lamp. I put heat lamps up in the winter since it can get to 40 below zero, when I do I chain them up and put a lock on them I also use metal cable ties and the clamp that comes with the lamp. I turn my heat lamps off when the temp get around 25 degrees (my chickens are adults) When the weather gets below zero I also use a 5 gallon metal waterer and sit it on top of a heated base I also use a six foot heat cable that you would use for water pipes and wrap it around the waterer and tape it in place and I never have frozen water. Works like a charm. I special order the length of the heat cable at Amazon.

 

[Angileen]

Would also like to say I use a small lamp desk in the summer and turn it on at night. It seems to calm my chickens and I feel better because chickens have horrible night visions that is why predators can kill them so easily at night. With the light on I am hoping if anything small like a weasel gets in the coop my Roosters and hens will kill it. The lamp doesn't give off heat and isn't terribly bright.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are fully feathered I'd guess five weeks or more. Most are fully feathered around 4 weeks but some are slower.

I've had 5-1/2 week old chicks go through nights with no supplemental heat with the lows in the mid 20's F. Where they were had good ventilation up high and good breeze protection down low where they were. Mine were also acclimated. My brooder was in the coop. One end was kept warm but on cold mornings the far end may have ice in it. So cold was not a shock. Once they get a little age on them they play in that cold end and go back to the warm side to warm up.

If yours are feathered out I don't see them having any problems in those temperatures. But I would want decent ventilation and a way for them to get out of a breeze if the wind were blowing.

It's good to see an expert's suggestions. Those checks are good to make no matter what you use for a heat source. Heat lamps, heat plates, heating pads, emitters, whatever you use can all start fires, especially of the wiring is faulty. I use a heat lamp in my brooder in the coop. I adjust the wattage based on time of year and what temperatures they are facing. Too much heat is as dangerous as too little, if not more so. When I install my heat lamp I toss that clamp that comes with it, I consider them unreliable. I hang my lamp with wire. I do not use string that can burn or plastic that can melt, but real wire.

 

[Angileen]

When I mentioned I use chain and lock, metal cable ties and the clamp to hang the heat lamps, I didn't mean I use one or the other I use all 3 at the same time. A little over kill? Maybe, but it's better than having a fire. For my chick brooder I use a brooder plate.