Why we must be careful with our brooder lights.

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

We have a smoke detector RIGHT above the brooder (not on purpose) it just worked out that way lol as they are in the same area as our heat/ac units!

 

[TriciaHowe]

This is one reason Dh got me the brower brooder for the feed room. Much less chance of fire with it. I do have a 125w bulb in my grow out pen that is tie strapped X2 to the upper wire. If it fell though it would only land on the wire below it.
Scary, scary stuff though...

 

[TriciaHowe]

MomtoSyd&Emma :

We have a smoke detector RIGHT above the brooder (not on purpose) it just worked out that way lol as they are in the same area as our heat/ac units!

We have a wood house that scares the beegezus out of me if it ever caught fire.....We have smoke detectors everywhere!

 

[horsejody]

Also, it is better to get the lamps with the ceramic, rather than the plastic, where the bulb screws in. The plastic can melt and create an additional fire hazard.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If you're using bulbs for heat (as in over 100 watts) you should ONLY use ceramic fixtures. No way I'd screw a 250 watt bulb into anything else.

.....Alan.

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks OP this has been good warning and advice taken as much as I can. I'll do my best.

 

[leni]

I feel awful for these people, so sad.

My chicks come at the end of this month, I'll be sure to take every precaution. Thanks OP for posting this.

 

[chickpip]

This is horrible.... feel so bad. We try and take all the necessary precautions...

 

[TriciaHowe]

A.T. Hagan :

If you're using bulbs for heat (as in over 100 watts) you should ONLY use ceramic fixtures. No way I'd screw a 250 watt bulb into anything else.

.....Alan.

Absolutely! Love my ceramic ones. Few dollars more, well worth it!!​

 

[Happy Chooks]

MomtoSyd&Emma :

As most of you know, this is a MAJOR fear of mine, and the reason its taken me so long to get a brooder going, so HOW are we all supposed to make sure this CANT happen? I just dont understand??

Anchor the lamp in many different ways. For example: I anchor mine with a chain then use about 4 zip ties to reinforce it. If one fails, there are 4 back up's in the zip ties. We also don't brood in the house. (not for this reason though, DH doesn't like chicks in the house) I also will not brood in a cardboard box, I'm just too paranoid about fire.

How sad for those people and their pets.