What size heat bulb?

[marymac]

I've been reading about using infrared heat bulbs to heat my coop with , but what is the best size bulb to use and how do i know which one to get? My coop is only about 6x8 and un insulated, but tight.

 

[LuannKeller]

I use 150 watt bulbs. Somepeople use 250 watt. I would rather put 2 150 watt lights in a coop - that way if one burns out (and they all do eventually) they get a chill but not a hard freeze.

I use the white bulbs (brooder bulb) rather than infrared. I find that with the light I get eggs and they sleep as they please. I am amazed that they go to bed in the light just fine. They do stay up later and get up earlier without sun delays but they also take a morning nap.

Try to get heat lamps with the ceramic base as I am told they are much safer. Also attach a safety chain (even a small bungey) to keep the lamp from falling if the clamp or chain fails - a dangling lamp won't hurt anything but one on the floor or ground will.

 

[TXmom]

I just bought a 250 watt red heat lamp. It's really hot for my indoor brooder, but I think it would be perfect in the coop.

To keep from frying my babies, DH put the heat lamp on a dimmer switch and now we can control the temps very easily

ETA: Oops, I just noticed you said "infrared" not "red"...sorry...

 

[jmatkovi]

If you are looking to heat your coop with out adding the extra light on your chickens you can use a ceramic heat lamp. They sell them at Amazon.com for reptile habitats. My chickens are still young and not laying so they don’t need the extra light. I use one and it works great.

 

[Lesa]

I really was hoping not to heat the coop- but with temps below zero a few nights in a row.....I put the 250 watt bulb I had used in the brooder in the light socket. My coop is about 10x10, and insulated. I was amazed at how warm the coop got. It is running right around 35-40 degrees. A nice improvement over -5! It is quite toasty and comfortable in there. I should be able to turn it off tomorrow or Sunday. Looks like we are warming up to 16! For the first time ever I saw two of the girls fighting in the coop - not sure if it is the weather or the red light- I sure am looking forward to spring!!

 

[marymac]

Could someone tell me the difference between infrared and red heat bulbs. sorry, but this is somewhat confusing to me.

 

[SD Spike]

At 39 below zero like yesterday morning I put out three 250 watt bulbs for my 15 chickens. They made use of them.

As far as the difference between infared and heat lamps. beats me. I use the ones my chickens like the best and they gather under the red heat lamps so I put the other clear 250 "infared" bulb up in the light socket for more light.

 

[marymac]

Wow... 39 below!!! that makes my 10 below sound warm. I wonder how in the world the little birdies outside stay alive in this type of cold. They are so small compared to our chickens.

 

[Chipper]

Infrared heat bulbs come in red and clear.The red ones give off a soft,dim light but just as much heat as the clear ones.When you here people talking about heat bulbs and infrared heat bulbs,they are usually talking about the same thing.If you decide to try one,make sure the light fixtue has a ceramic base because they get very hot.Hope this helps ya.

 

[Sissy]

my coop is 4x8 with a 32sq, foot attched run
but I have my ladies locked in for this cold snap and have a clear
heat lamp 150 watt over their waterer, keeps the water from freezing and if my ladies need extra warmth they huddle near the waterer. but they all roost and are doing their thing
got an egg 2 days ago.Temp in the coop was 5 *
but do use a ceramic light fixture.For which ever heat bulb you use..
to be safe.