How far should my heat lamp be from my birds

[Jgrice]

Hi there,

I live in Texas and we are about to have below zero temps with blizzard like conditions. My coop is dry and ventilated, but I bought a heat lamp for them at night. It’s supposed to be -5 for a few nights in a row.

is this a good idea? And it so, how far should I keep it from them so they don’t get too hot?

 

[Ted Brown]

I just looked at your recent weather and temperatures, cold is not new for your chickens.

As long as they are well ventilated you do not need to add heat, they will be fine. Use of a heat lamp does have risks, being knocked over and starting fires is the most severe.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Here in Northern Colorado we are not going to see much if any above zero for the HIGH for a few days.

Having had chickens for a few decades I have learned to relax a lot.
Right now we are zero degrees. They are all out in their runs scratching around like it's a normal day.

We have been -16 and will be seeing that again before Monday.

No heat added as their feathers are providing a nice coat to keep them warm.

I know the temps are not great in your area but they are well within the chickens tolerance zone.

 

[Jgrice]

I just looked at your recent weather and temperatures, cold is not new for your chickens.

As long as they are well ventilated you do not need to add heat, they will be fine. Use of a heat lamp does have risks, being knocked over and starting fires is the most severe.

Okay, that’s helpful, thanks!

I just looked at your recent weather and temperatures, cold is not new for your chickens.

As long as they are well ventilated you do not need to add heat, they will be fine. Use of a heat lamp does have risks, being knocked over and starting fires is the most severe.

 

[hannah and the chickens]

Hi!
We’ve had similar temperatures where I live for about a week or two now and because I was concerned about a molting hen, I bought a 100 Watt ceramic heat lamp last week. The instructions say to put the lamp up with at least 60 cm/23 inches distance to anything that might catch fire. I put up the lamp above one of the roosting bars and used a timer to turn it on and off for the night. The lamp only warms a small part of the roosting bar so the chickens are able to choose where to sit. The chickens all don’t really seem to care wether the lamp is turned on or off though, even the molting hen only sat directly under the lamp a handful of times. I suppose putting up the heat lamp adds between 2-5 degrees at night, but that’s mainly so I don’t have to worry, the chickens could definitely deal without.

My chickens seemed to be a bit depressed last week when we had stormy weather, they didn’t want to go outside because of the snow. Today we had 20 degrees and sunny weather and all chickens (including the one in molt) were running around in their run like normal.

 

[DobieLover]

how far should I keep it from them

In the house should be far enough.

Heat lamps are dangerous and unnecessary in those temperatures.
As long as the birds have proper ventilation, the coop is DRY and they are protected from drafts strong enough to open feathers, they will be fine.

 

[icy_flames]

Here in Northern Colorado we are not going to see much if any above zero for the HIGH for a few days.

Having had chickens for a few decades I have learned to relax a lot.
Right now we are zero degrees. They are all out in their runs scratching around like it's a normal day.

We have been -16 and will be seeing that again before Monday.

No heat added as their feathers are providing a nice coat to keep them warm.

I know the temps are not great in your area but they are well within the chickens tolerance zone.

Also in Colorado. It is -2 right now and my birds have been going in and out of coop all morning. They don't need supplemental heat.

Keep them dry, make sure water doesn't freeze, extra scratch as a treat in morning so their metabolism gets going to generate warmth, good ventilation + no drafts in coop. They are tough

 

[21hens-incharge]

Also in Colorado. It is -2 right now and my birds have been going in and out of coop all morning. They don't need supplemental heat.

Keep them dry, make sure water doesn't freeze, extra scratch as a treat in morning so their metabolism gets going to generate warmth, good ventilation + no drafts in coop. They are tough

We just hit a positive 1°!

I looked out when I got home from a grocery run. Everyone is still milling about in their runs.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Im always very wary of heat lamps im english so temps dont get as bad here but fire risk is high with them obv its up to u mate just keep an eye
Sam xx

 

[aart]

In the house should be far enough.

Exactly my thought!