heat lamp

[djb78]

With these cold nights I've lost a double bar and 2 ruddy hens I'm thinking that a heat lamp at nite would be a good idea just to keep the more fragile hens and cocks alive to spring unless this cold snap disappears quickly. This would be used only at night and early hours of the morning, the light glob watt would be 40. Does anybody see any problems with the low watt light globe or would a bigger watt be needed. Would this be a sufficient heat in a 1mx1mx.7m box that I just finished building, the box will be in my garage with plastic over the front as what they were in before. Never had this problem before always been in a breeding box in the aviery covered in plastic.

[djb78]

I've just received a heat lamp with a thermostat the same as for reptiles the temp settings are from 15-40 degrees, as I want to keep some of my more softer hens alive through the colder winter nights I'm left with only this option, what would be a perfect temp to keep the chill off them but not to warm so as they don't rely upon the lamp running 24 7, I was leaning towards 15 degrees but was told 18-20 degrees can anyone suggest an appropriate temp?

[Mickp]

in the past I have used terracotta plant pots with light fittings inside them.
the terracotta warms up a reasonable size area for the birds to congregate in if necessary while not getting to the point of being hot enough to burn the birds if they were to land on it.
there is a picture of something similar on the forum somewhere .

[toothlessjaws]

i've been switching my heat lamp on only for a couple of hrs each morning, to give the birds a chance to warm up after cold nights if the sun is not out. i find that leaving it on at night is unnecessary as the birds don't use it anyway. it also only confuses them and keeps some of them active at night.

so far all the birds (particularly hens) appear healthy and not stressed despite the weather. for those of us in cooler souther climes where the days to not always get warm, i strongly recommend a heater.

i very much believe its not the cold nights that kill your birds so much as the lack of warm daytime temperatures to give them a recharge.

[djb78]

Never came across this problem before being covered and in my garage, might give it ago with turning the heat lamp on early morning since I'm up and ready to leave at 5am and get my wife to turn it off when she leaves, what temp would he recommend since I'll be able to set it. Its strange that my dbars, ruddies and strawberries are finding this cold weather tough when my ons and cordons aren't showing any signs of stress from the cold, painteds and stars are in my shed which isn't insulated at all, got me boggled why this year they're finding it hard than last year.

[E Orix]

As per MickP I use a flatter type terrecotta pot hung just off the floor(about 100/150mm) with a 40 watt old type globe in it.
Some sit under and some sit on the top.
I was lucky when the big globe change over was on I went to an Electrical Wholesaler and got a bulk purchase,
I even got the them with a discount for the bulk buy.

[Diane]

Here is a link to a terracotta pot type one I made a couple of years ago based on what Mickp described, this was high up in the aviary near where the birds roosted, but I have also used another one hung quite close to the floor as E Orix has done, ideal for those emblema fledglings that take their time getting further up the aviary.

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[fd9031]

I bought a heat lamp on the weekend from exotic pets at Liverpool. Put the 50 watt night globe in and my gouldians love it.