Stop buying those expensive heat lamps for your coop

I lost three hens last winter to a coop fire from a cheap heat lamp bulb touching the wire guard. Switched to a simple 40 watt reptile ceramic heater and haven't had a single issue since - anyone else ditch the lamps for something safer?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_barnes1mo ago

My neighbor lost his whole flock to a lamp fire back in 2018, but honestly I've been using the same cheap heat lamp for five years with zero problems - you just have to bolt the guard on tight and keep it away from dust. Makes me wonder if @oliver523 is overreacting a bit, like are these fires really that common or just bad luck stories.

oliver5231mo ago

Tossed my lamps after a buddy's barn burned down last winter. Now I use those heated pads for chickens. The ones that sit on the ground. They're basically like a warm floor tile. Birds huddle on top or next to it, no exposed heat element at all. Way less fire risk and they actually seem to spread heat better since the chickens can choose how close they want to get.