Infrared light and sleeping

[cnvigner]

Hello,
Does an infrared bulb (250W) keep the chickens from sleeping? I hate to use it, but we have had such cold nights here in Michigan that one hen got her comb frozen. I happened to look into the coop after dark while the the light on last night and all of the chickens were awake! I thought the red light didn't bother sleeping.
(I don't like to turn in on and off - I leave it on for the entire cold snap and then when it warms back up again I turn it off. The temp has been fluctuating so much.)
thank you

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I also live in Michigan, but I do not use heat lamps even when we goth those subzero temps awhile back. the lamps will cause more problems than they fix.

 

[centrarchid]

I use an infrared LED bulb in my heat lamp that is use illuminate the barn. It does not produce much in the way of heat as has too short in wavelength, but it does allow me and especially the chickens see bad guys that come into barn. I have about 60 birds in the barn so always a couple alert enough to see movement while balance totally asleep. Birds seeing bad guy give alarm waking every one else calling dogs in.

The light does not have the much shorter wavelengths that keep birds awake. Nor does the light promote egg production.

 

[FluffyFeathersilkie]

No it does not it actually keeps them warm and helps them sleep better.

 

[Rammy]

Its not safe to use heatlamps in a coop or barn. Too ma ny times there have been reports of barn fires or coop fires caused by a heat lamp that fell and caught the bedding on fire.
If you are concerned about them being cold, there are safer alternatives to keeping your coop warm.

https://www.sweeterheater.com/#!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX9K1JI/?tag=backy-20

https://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1;ft_poultry_equipment;ft_poultry_brooders_heaters.html

Heres a couple of websites if your intetested.

 

[centrarchid]

Its not safe to use heatlamps in a coop or barn. Too ma ny times there have been reports of barn fires or coop fires caused by a heat lamp that fell and caught the bedding on fire.
If you are concerned about them being cold, there are safer alternatives to keeping your coop warm.

https://www.sweeterheater.com/#!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX9K1JI/?tag=backy-20

https://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1;ft_poultry_equipment;ft_poultry_brooders_heaters.html

Heres a couple of websites if your intetested.

Neither OP nor I using them to heat. Mine is no different than using a light to promote egg production during winter. Proper setup needs to be used to prevent fire hazard.

 

[chickens really]

I have 250 watt heat lamps up in 4 coops. Definitely safety precautions need to be taken. I'm more concerned about the electrical in my old house than the heat lamps for my Birds.
My Birds all sleep fine..

 

[Shadrach]

I'm not keen on electricity in coops. There is usually to much flammable material and while properly securing heat lamps etc reduces the risk of fire, chickens don't need light of any type to sleep.
Lighting and heating in the vast majority of the coops is for the keepers convenience and not of any real benefit to the chickens. A properly built coop for the environment should be able to provide sufficient insulation/light in most cases.and seems to me the most sensible option.
There may be exception in extremely cold or how environments but then one has to question the wisdom of keeping chickens in such an environment in the first place.
I do have outside cables here and the rats seem to like chewing them.
If I work in a coop when it's dark I use a head torch.

 

[centrarchid]

In my part of the world, limestone gravel does not burn. That is the surface my barn light is suspended over and illuminates. If the lighting helps control predator losses, then it is arguably needed. We need to use common sense and assume others are using it until proven otherwise. No sense in obligate contrarianism.

 

[chickens really]

I'm not keen on electricity in coops. There is usually to much flammable material and while properly securing heat lamps etc reduces the risk of fire, chickens don't need light of any type to sleep.
Lighting and heating in the vast majority of the coops is for the keepers convenience and not of any real benefit to the chickens. A properly built coop for the environment should be able to provide sufficient insulation/light in most cases.and seems to me the most sensible option.
There may be exception in extremely cold or how environments but then one has to question the wisdom of keeping chickens in such an environment in the first place.
I do have outside cables here and the rats seem to like chewing them.
If I work in a coop when it's dark I use a head torch.

Hmm? Are saying Canadian people shouldn't keep chickens because the fire hazard is too high? My Silkies and Rosecomb would of froze to death at -35C.
I definitely have safe set ups and my Coops are only heated to cut the chill.