Anyone here use heat lamps?

[MiniHoofBeats]

Just wondering for those of you who are like me, in the NEGATIVES...do you hang heat lamps in your stalls for the horses at night when it gets really cold? Or would you be more concerned about it possibly being a fire hazard?

 

[Suzie]

I am just paranoid about fire in the barn I guess. We have heat lamps that I do plug in and have on when I am at the barn in the evening (while I am working in there). However, I make sure I unplug them all before I leave. We have some insulation in the barn and it seems the raise the temps enough to prevent water in the stalls from freezing. We are not as cold as most of those here, but I would rather have a colder horse than risk an accident.

 

[Triggy&Blue&Daisy Too]

I know mine don't need them so I generally use them only for my own comfort. We've had some horrific posts in the past about them causing barn fires so if you choose to use them I know there are some safer than others. I bought some knock offs at my local hardware during a sale that turned out to be just like the really expensive ones specifically made for barn use. They have ceramic rods rather than heating coils or heat lamp bulbs in them and are said to be safer but I'd still be too concerned to leave them unattended.

 

[Reble]

We have used them for years, and would not be without them with our cold temps here in Ontario, especially if the babies are born in the winter.

We do not use straw, and just need to keep them clean like any other bulbs with spider webs etc.

Our regular bulbs can also cause a fire they are pretty darn hot try taking one out while they are still on?

Not all will agree but yes, we use them.

 

[MiniHoofBeats]

Thanks for your replies! I just was thinking about the possibility of getting them - i'm trying to get a few replies from people who are currently in weather like me, below zero! Last weekend it was -20...with the wind chill factor it was -40! All the horses were put inside but I alway worry about how cold it still is outside...I can see not worrying if you're in the teens, maybe singles, but at -20 you bet I worry! So...just looking for some opinions! My first thought was concern for possible fire. If I did get one it would be hung from the rafters and high enough so no one can touch it, but i'm still always worried about fire! But also worried about the cold. I suppose I see some people who just leave their horses outside, I wouldn't do that in -20 degree weather, how miserable those poor horses must be! But well...maybe I just worry too much? =)

 

[Oakbrooke Farm]

We have always used the heat lamps. My husband direct wired them with ceramic sockets, and we have them all on a dimmer switch. That way we can turn them up or down depending on the temperature.

 

[MiniHoofBeats]

Thanks Reble, and Oakbrooke what a fantastic idea, a dimmer switch!

 

[Little Wee Horse Farm]

I used heat lamps for years to keep my early-born (cold weather) foals warm. I also used a heat lamp to keep my pot-bellied pig warm.

The fire marshall determined that the fire in which I lost my barn and 15 horses (6 of which were pregnant) was caused by a heat lamp. Please don't use them. :no: :no: And by the way, sawdust, shavings or Woody Pet are no safer around heat lamps than straw or hay is. All are highly combustible. I speak from experience. (bad experience, but experience nonetheless).

 

[Triggy&Blue&Daisy Too]

I'm so sorry Little Wee, I'd forgotten who had the tragedy. You are the definately the ultimate voice of experience on this one that is for sure.

 

["City Slicker"]

I use radiant heater out in the garage, I don't suggest it for a barn though. Heat lamps are good as long as you keep them clean and high enough the little ones can't bang'em with their heads.

 

[Minimor]

I don't & won't use heat lamps. Over the years I've just known too many fires that were started by them. Some may be safer than others, but when we have horses in the barn all power to the barn is shut off so there is no risk of electrical fire--electrical panels and heat lamps are the two worst fire hazards I know of.

There was a barn fire in New Hampshire a couple weeks ago--caused by a heat lamp, and it killed a young foal and several mature horses.

And thank you very much, but just because horses stay outside 24/7 in cold weather doesn't make them miserable. Ours are out 24/7 and Monday morning when it was -40 here (no wind thank goodness) I went out about 4 am just to check on one little horse that's on lay up--he's not able to move around much and is blanketed in this weather--and the others were all out & about, outside picking at their hay. They were all bright eyed & curious about what I was doing out there at that hour, but they were not cold and there wasn't one of them that anyone could say looked miserable. They have sheds & all can use them if & when they want--and if there's a wind blowing when it's this cold, they do use them.

While it's true that in this weather I am miserable when I have to be outside for extended periods of time I can assure you that the horses are not at all miserable. Whenever someone asks me how the horses are doing in this cold weather, I tell them the horses handle the cold far better than we do!

 

[Oakbrooke Farm]

Our lights are mounted to the ceiling, so they are plenty far away. I clean the bulbs weekly so there is no accumulation of dust or cob webs on them.

 

[Miniv]

I would LOVE to install radiant heat lights but until then, we use heat lamps carefully and sparingly. We only use them for our foaling stalls and during their first 24 hours when they need help regulating their body temperature.

We try to keep the area dusted and free of spider-webs and also have it raised up enough so the mare can't reach it. Yes, there is a fire risk (as pointed out above) but I think it's up to the individual if they want to take it when a foal is born during cold weather and a foal blanket just doesn't cut it.

MA

 

[Chamomile]

I've used heat lamps in my stalls when it got really cold and the thing I noticed was the horses seemed to get sick. They were in the stall with the heat lamp, then in the day outside, once the it warmed up a bit, then back inside to the heat lamp. It really did them no good. I don't do that anymore. The only reason I use a heat lamp is for the foals when they are born in March, April, or May here. It's still pretty cold at night so we turn them on then. But by then the days are in the 50's and 60's. Of course we have run in stalls, open on one side to the outside. And cameras in the stalls...

 

[Marty]

Several years ago, I about set my whole barn on fire with my horses in it because of heat lamps. My Florida Quarter Horses were freezing up here that first winter disipite their double blankets and hoods so we got the heat lamps. Never, ever again. If I was not out there doing my nightly check, I would have lost them all within another 2 seconds. Their stable blankets on their backs were smoldering and there was already smoke coming from them ~~~~~~~They are the most dangerous things to have around.

The answer to all of this is to insullate your barns. It will be the best money you will ever spend. IT is not expensive to do, and you can all do it yourselves easily. Michael and I did our barn in one day's time.

This is the first winter that my barn is fully insullated now. There has been anywhere from a 20 to 30 degree difference in there when all the doors are closed. My gosh it has saved my poor little mi-min-yas from falling off and that my friends, would have been rather messy. :new_shocked: . And oh, the best part is that my water doesn't freeze in there. No more need to haul hot water from the house. The water buckets in the stalls stay at a nice temperature and everyone is drinking well.

The insullation was not finished last summer of 2006 so I won't know what it will be like yet for the summer months, but I know it's going to be righteous! I promise you this investment will pay many times over.

 

[busyminimom]

I wouldn't just last week there was a barn fire in Barnstead NH (I believe.) Not far from us. It was caused by a foal knocking the light over and 6 horses died. Very Sad

 

[Magic]

I've used them in the past, but I won't ever again. The risk of a fire isn't worth it to me.

 

[MiLo Minis]

A healthy well fed Mini has no need for extra heat. Their unclipped coat will keep them plenty warm at just about any temperature as long as they have a shelter to get out of the wind and weather. Most of my horses are outside 24/7 and we are having -30 temps here with wind chill factors of even less than that. They go in their shed or behind their shed to get out of the wind and they are all warm and fuzzy when I go out to check them - just give them extra hay to munch on and generate warmth. I do use heat lamps for foaling and for ailing horses that don't need to waste any energy fighting to keep warm. Once the foal is dry the lamp goes out - only on for the first day. I keep them clean and well secured out of the horses reach and I don't ever blanket under a lamp. I know people that have lost foals to the cold so it is about the same risk to me.

 

[Jean_B]

A healthy well fed Mini has no need for extra heat. Their unclipped coat will keep them plenty warm at just about any temperature as long as they have a shelter to get out of the wind and weather. Most of my horses are outside 24/7 and we are having -30 temps here with wind chill factors of even less than that. They go in their shed or behind their shed to get out of the wind and they are all warm and fuzzy when I go out to check them - just give them extra hay to munch on and generate warmth. I do use heat lamps for foaling and for ailing horses that don't need to waste any energy fighting to keep warm. Once the foal is dry the lamp goes out - only on for the first day. I keep them clean and well secured out of the horses reach and I don't ever blanket under a lamp. I know people that have lost foals to the cold so it is about the same risk to me.

DITTO !! Key words...healthy and full coat and a dry place to sleep out of the wind. Even when it was 25 below my horses chose to stand outside as long as there wasn't any wind. Give them LOTS of extra hay and they'll be fine.

I am a firm believer that a closed up barn will create sickness. When horses breath, they put moisture in the air...which in turn makes the whole place damp. Ever try sleeping in a small camper when it is cold outside? The walls get damp. Just think of all those nasty microbes that are breathed into the air with no place to go?

However, I do have a Kalglo radiant heater (I NEVER will use a heat lamp of any sort) that I hang in my foaling stall. As soon as the foal is dry I turn it off. Had a foal born in January in Wisconsin one year...and it was absolutely healthy.. and tossed outside with the rest of the herd within a couple of days (and my barn was open on one end.) The Kalglo hangs approximately 5' 2" off the ground so it is way above even my tallest mare (but low enough that I keep clunking my head on it )

 

[Miniv]

A healthy well fed Mini has no need for extra heat. Their unclipped coat will keep them plenty warm at just about any temperature as long as they have a shelter to get out of the wind and weather. Most of my horses are outside 24/7 and we are having -30 temps here with wind chill factors of even less than that. They go in their shed or behind their shed to get out of the wind and they are all warm and fuzzy when I go out to check them - just give them extra hay to munch on and generate warmth. I do use heat lamps for foaling and for ailing horses that don't need to waste any energy fighting to keep warm. Once the foal is dry the lamp goes out - only on for the first day. I keep them clean and well secured out of the horses reach and I don't ever blanket under a lamp. I know people that have lost foals to the cold so it is about the same risk to me.

I totally agree....... As I posted before, we only use a heat lamp for our newborns. If we had a sick and shivering horse where a blanket wasn't enough we would probably use it for them as well.

MA