Ditch the heat lamp after a nasty scare last winter

I used to run a 250w heat lamp in the coop from November through March, no questions asked. Then a hen knocked it loose one windy night back in January and it nearly started a fire on the straw. Switched to a flat panel radiant heater instead, it sits on the wall and they huddle near it without any bulb to shatter or tip. Coop temps still hang around 40 degrees when it's 20 outside, which is honestly fine since they've got each other and good roosts. Wiring cost me about $60 total and I sleep way better not worrying about a glow in the dark fire hazard. Has anyone else made the jump away from lamps, and what do you use for extreme cold snaps below zero?

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sagea886d ago

Notice how the same thing happens with space heaters in houses and even phone chargers. People keep using the old way because it works, until one close call makes them rethink everything. Once you see how flat panel heaters do the job without the risk, you start questioning other habits too. Same reason I swapped my old extension cords for the heavy duty ones after a frayed wire sparked. It's not about making everything perfect, it's about cutting the worst dangers without giving up comfort.