Options for heating a chicken coop in winter with infrared lamps

No matter how you insulate the chicken coop and no matter what bedding you make, this will not be enough in the cold winter. The birds, of course, will not die, but they will not fly. The optimal room temperature should not be lower than +15°C, so you need to take care of heating the poultry house. Most often, poultry farmers use infrared heaters. Unlike other heating devices, they heat not the air, but the objects they are directed at. As a result, objects warm up first: perches, bedding, the chickens themselves, and from them the heat spreads into the air. The principle of operation is similar to the sun.

The heat from conventional convectors rises to the ceiling, causing it to be hot above and cold below. Infrared heaters do not have this drawback - they heat the room evenly. It is also a big plus that their heat does not burn oxygen and does not dry out the air.

When choosing an infrared heater for a chicken coop, you should pay attention to the following points:

• Device type depending on installation location
  . IR heaters are installed on the floor, attached to the wall or hung on the ceiling. Ceiling and wall models are more suitable for a chicken coop, as they do not take up useful space. In any case, when installing a heater, the most important thing is to eliminate the possibility of burns.
• A type of heating element
  . The best models are those with halogen and carbon. Their main advantages are fast heating and long-term temperature maintenance. Devices with ceramic plates are also popular.
• The presence of a thermostat
  . This is a very useful feature for the heater, as it allows it to turn off when the set temperature is reached. In addition to safety, this also provides a bonus in the form of energy savings. However, ceiling models are rarely equipped with a thermostat, so you will have to purchase it separately.
• Overheat protection
  . The function is necessary for safe use of the device. In case of overheating, the device will simply turn off and thereby prevent a fire.
• Power
  . This indicator is directly related to the area of ​​the chicken coop. Poultry farmers choose heaters based on the rule that there should be 80-100 W of power per square meter. When calculating, simply multiply the area of ​​the room with this value. Also don't forget about the ceiling height. For example, to heat a chicken coop with an area of ​​10 square meters. m. a device with a power of 800 W to 1000 W is suitable.

Infrared heaters are very economical. The heat from them is retained in the room for a long time and is not consumed. If your chicken coop is well insulated and there are no cracks in it, then the operating time of the device will not exceed 25-30% per day. In this case, electricity consumption per month will be insignificant and will not exceed 40-50 kW.

We analyzed the market and selected the best infrared heaters for your chicken coop that will help you maintain the optimal temperature even in severe frost. The rating includes energy-saving models for rooms of different sizes.

Bottom line

Infrared heaters are a godsend for poultry farmers. Their use will allow you to create comfortable conditions for your birds and yourself without any special capital investments. It will be convenient for you to clean the chicken coop and feed the chickens. And they, in turn, will simply be ashamed not to thank you with their egg products.

We invite you to join our Zen channel and group on VKontakte or Odnoklassniki, where new articles are published, as well as news for gardeners and livestock breeders.

Similar articles:

• What feed to choose for laying hens so that productivity always remains at a high level
• How to increase the productivity of laying hens in the cold season
• How to choose a chicken for the responsible role of a hen

Required temperature

The optimal temperature inside the chicken coop during winter is +12…+15 C. Birds in this temperature regime feel comfortable and lay eggs stably. Temperatures can be reduced to +8 C.

On a note! Install a thermometer inside the coop to constantly monitor the temperature inside the coop.

There is no need to achieve temperatures above +15 C in winter, this will lead to increased energy costs and will not benefit the chickens. An increase in temperature in the chicken coop in winter disrupts the life biorhythms of the bird.

Best Panel Heaters for Chicken Coop

These are also devices that generate IR rays, but here the heating element is literally poured into a mineral plate that serves as an emitter. This increases the safety of operation in the chicken coop, and it is impossible to get burned on such a surface, since the temperature outside is 60-80 degrees. Installation is carried out on the wall or ceiling and is possible in both new and old chicken coops.

Ballu BIH-S2-0.3

Rating: 4.9

The electric heater has a square panel 59x59 cm, which is designed for installation in Armstrong ceilings. In the chicken coop, it can be attached to the surface using four holes in the corners. The model weighs 3.4 kg, which means it will not put a strong load on the ceiling. The heater power is 300 W, which is enough for a chicken coop of 3-4 m². The manufacturer used a new generation of heating elements in the design, similar to “warm floors”. This has increased the operating efficiency and reliability of the device, so the product warranty is 5 years. The panel thickness of 35 mm will not protrude much downwards from the ceiling, which increases safety for a person while walking around a low chicken coop.

Experts singled out the product for its increased dust and moisture protection IP54. This perfectly protects the heater body from the penetration of particles less than 1 mm in diameter and extends the life of the device. If water gets on the panel at any angle, the terminals will not be oxidized, so the contact inside will not be lost.

Advantages

• simple installation;
• 5 year warranty;
• housing sealing IP54;
• new generation of heating elements.

Flaws

• sold without plug and cable;
• The kit does not include fasteners.

Peony Thermoglass Ceramic-10

Rating: 4.8

This is another bird heater that has an insulated body to IP54 standard. In addition, the glass outer panel is much easier to clean than stone options, in case you later want to take the heater from the coop into the house or sell it. The device has a power of 1000 W, which is enough to fully heat an area of ​​10 m². The dimensions of the case are 80x29 cm and it can be hung either on the ceiling or on the wall. In the first case, an installation height of up to 3.5 m is allowed. The manufacturer issues a 3-year warranty on the product, but assures that the electric heater will last 25 years.

A distinctive advantage of the heater is its smallest thickness - 10 mm. It takes up minimal space and does not protrude from the wall, so it will not interfere with the birds and the owner’s movement around the coop. It is almost impossible for chickens to accidentally get caught on such an element.

Advantages

• IP54 sealed panel;
• 3 year warranty;
• the surface is easy to clean after use in the chicken coop;
• thin block 10 mm.

Flaws

• high price;
• without temperature control device.

The best IR film heaters for chicken coops

Such heater models are distinguished by their thin body - it literally consists of a film with soldered semiconductors that act as heating elements. The surface temperature here is even lower - 40-50 degrees. This increases operational safety, but requires a closer location to the chickens. It can be mounted on the ceiling and walls in an existing chicken coop. They also practice installation in the floor, but this must be done at the construction stage in order to then cover the film with hardboard or other materials. The power of such models is small, therefore, they are suitable only for compact chicken coops of 1-3 m².

Heat of Crimea 250 Watt (EO-224/1)

Rating: 4.9

The film-type heater has dimensions of 180x63 cm and a power of 250 W. At maximum it can reach 273 W. The mat is transparent, so any mechanical damage to the heating element (if someone accidentally punctures it or breaks it) is immediately clearly visible. The manufacturer allows the film to be laid under wooden coverings and linoleum. The temperature of the outer part does not exceed 40 degrees, which means it is impossible to get burned on it. The product is already equipped with a power cord and a mode switch (two in total) to control the microclimate.

This is an excellent option for insulating the chicken coop where the new brood is kept. Thanks to the heating from the floor, the chicks will be warm; they will be able to walk freely around the box, rather than huddling under a light bulb. Depending on the time of day, the user can set the desired temperature using the existing switch, avoiding additional investments.

Advantages

• supplied with certificate RU C-Ru.AL16.V.03083;
• there is a power cord;
• a mode switch is provided;
• The transparent mat helps you quickly find the damaged area.

Flaws

• short cord
• 1 year warranty;
• estimated service life is 5 years.

Zebra EVO-300 Rpo

Rating: 4.8

The film is available in sizes 50x60 cm and has a power of 66 W. It is completely non-flammable and protected from water penetration according to the IPx4 standard. The surface temperature does not exceed 50 degrees, so the chickens are not in danger even with direct contact with the heater. The system is connected to a 220 V network and one segment is capable of heating an area of ​​up to 0.7 m². Installation is allowed on the ceiling, wall or under the floor. The outer mirror coating perfectly distributes IR rays throughout the chicken coop.

The convenience of the heater lies in the fact that it can be laid in segments in the required quantity, and, as necessary, expanded during operation. For easy connection, cable outlets are provided at the corners. Thus, you can connect additional squares yourself if it is cool in the chicken coop.

Advantages

• low power consumption;
• 10 year warranty;
• protected from splashing water from any angle;
• outside temperature is not higher than 50 degrees.

Flaws

• requires a separate thermostat.

Rating of the best heaters for chicken coops

Asymmetrical Intermittent Mode

This is a kind of imitation of the natural alternation of day and night with a pronounced boundary between them. For this reason, emergency shutdown of lamps is not a stress factor for the bird.

With this regime, approximately 80% of eggs are produced on the artificial day. According to production workers, this is the optimal lighting option for egg farming.

During intermittent mode, half of the feed is consumed with the lights turned off. In this regard, a third of the feed mixture is fed before the birds rest at night.

It takes 12 hours to absorb calcium supplied with food. Therefore, after daily feeding, this mineral is excreted from the chickens’ body at two in the morning. It's time for the shell to form!

Best Narrow IR Heaters for Chicken Coop

Narrow cabinet heaters are installed on the ceiling or hung on the wall in the chicken coop. They have a closed heating element that generates IR rays from a plate with honeycombs. Such devices can be installed in already built and operating chicken coops without additional preparation (no insulation of the surface around the heater is required, since its temperature does not exceed 200º C). The power of heaters ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 kW, which is convenient for accurately selecting the characteristics for the area of ​​the chicken coop.

Ballu BIH-AP4-1.0

Rating: 4.9

The heater has dimensions of 119x13x4 cm and operates with a power of 1 kW. This is enough to heat a chicken coop with an area of ​​up to 10-12 m², depending on the weather outside. The manufacturer has developed a sophisticated emitter that generates long IR waves. Thanks to this, the heater is suitable for high ceilings, even if you have a multi-tiered chicken coop up to 3.5 m in height. The kit already includes brackets for hanging mounting. The device weighs only 2.7 kg, so any beam or profile can support it. In reviews, the product is singled out for its quick heating, silent operation and thin 40 mm body, which does not “steal” space in a room with low ceilings.

The highlight of the chicken coop model is the waterproof housing of the terminal block. It reliably covers live parts and promotes safe operation. The outside of the panel is anodized with a layer of 25 microns, which extends the life of the heater. We recommend this product for chicken coops with poor vapor permeability of the walls, where condensation forms on the ceiling.

Advantages

• reliable mechanical control;
• slim body 40 mm;
• protection from moisture is provided;
• suitable for ceilings with a height of 2.5-3.5 m.

Flaws

• The cable and thermostat must be purchased separately.

Timberk TCH A5 1500

Rating: 4.8

The heater produces a power of 1500 W and is suitable for a spacious chicken coop of 15 m². The radiating panel is equipped with many additional edges, which increases the dissipation ability - heat radiates in all directions from the device at 100º. The dimensions of the product are 1652x50x142 mm, so there should be enough space on the ceiling in the chicken coop to place a heater. The manufacturer assures that the model will be effective even with a ceiling height of 2.7 m. The device always operates in one mode, and to regulate the temperature you will need to purchase a thermostat. Technically, heaters in this series can be connected in one line, which is practical for commercial activities and large chicken coops. In this case, it is practical to buy a remote control for them, which allows you to control the equipment settings remotely.

Reviews praise the product for its high-quality assembly. Here all the elements fit well and dust from the chicken coop will not leak inside. The manufacturer also provided protection against voltage surges. The heater will cope with its tasks perfectly and will survive if the indicator in the outlet increases to 270 V.

Advantages

• good reflection from the screen;
• suitable for a large chicken coop up to 15 m²;
• installation height up to 2.7 m is allowed;
• There is no unpleasant smell after the first use.

Flaws

• cracks during heating;
• a long body of 1.65 m, for which you need to find a place on the ceiling;
• The temperature control unit is purchased separately.

System "Dawn-Sunset"

To help poultry farmers, ready-made lighting systems are produced that are particularly suitable for chicken coops. One of the popular ones is “Dawn-Sunset”.

The device operates in the following ways:

• automatically (using a special program);
• forcibly (the mode is set manually);
• in a programmed mode (indicating date, time, glow intensity).

Read also: Broth for aspic with gelatin

Using a special handle, you can turn on the light at full power. This becomes necessary when carrying out repair work and preventive measures. The device is put into automatic mode by pressing just a couple of buttons.

Technical characteristics of the device:

• display – liquid crystal;
• number of programs – 4;
• time interval when changing modes (smooth extinguishing/switching on) – 15 minutes;
• forced switching on of lighting;
• power supply – 220V;
• power – up to 9 W;
• Duration of work: 24 hours a day;
• body parameters – 130x110x40 mm.

Infrared heating lamps

Infrared lamps are also called infrared mirror bulbs (IRFL). This is one of the most convenient and economical ways to heat a poultry house. With a 250 W lamp you can heat an area of ​​ten square meters.

How to choose?

The main criterion for their choice should not be financial savings, but safety. Otherwise it will look like the picture below.

Burnt out poultry house

But in any case, the power of the heater must correspond to the area of ​​the chicken coop.

Important! There should be 80 watts of power per square meter of area.

Based on these numbers, you can determine what power heater is suitable for your poultry house.

To do this, you need to multiply the area of ​​the chicken coop with the capacity of one square meter. And you will get the required value. Just take into account the height of the ceiling.

For a chicken coop, it is better to choose ceiling or wall mounted models. They don’t get in the way and don’t disturb either the chickens or you.

They warm up the objects underneath well, thereby promoting uniform heat distribution throughout the room.

Pay attention to the heating elements installed in the heater. When you need to heat a specific place, and not the entire chicken coop, it is better to choose tubular (carbon) heating elements rather than halogen and ceramic heating elements.

They are more durable and safe. Their service life is practically unlimited, they are not afraid of dust and moisture. If the voltage is unstable, they automatically turn off.

Installing infrared heaters usually does not cause any difficulties. To do this, it is enough to have basic construction skills and strictly follow the instructions included with the purchased device.

Wavelength

Infrared heaters can be:

• long-wave;
• medium wave;
• shortwave.

Heaters with short-wave radiation have a negative effect on living organisms. Therefore, they are installed in rooms where people are not present.

Long-wave and medium-wave heaters are harmless to humans. It is even claimed that they have a healing effect. In particular, they increase immunity. But there is no substantiated data on this matter.

Medium wave heaters are:

• halogen - a lamp coated with an additional composition and filled with an inert gas;
• quartz - a tungsten filament is sealed into a quartz vacuum tube;
• ceramic - in comparison with quartz they are more economical and are used in medical institutions;
• carbon - the heating element is carbon fiber sealed in a vacuum tube.;
• tubular - they are also called mecathermic. Dear models. In them, a steel spiral may crack when the metal heats up and expands.

Carbon and tubular heaters are preferable from this list.

Halogen models have a negative impact on health. Ceramic ones are not dangerous, but they are not reliable.

Practical recommendations from experts

If the poultry house is closed and the livestock does not have the opportunity to walk, then experts offer a program for intermittent operation of electrical appliances.

It is carried out as follows:

1. At night, the birds sleep, and every hour of daylight alternates between 15 minutes of electricity on and 45 minutes of darkness.
2. In the second week, the ratio of light and darkness is reversed: 15 minutes of darkness, 45 minutes of light.
3. From the third week they return to 15 minutes of light, 45 of darkness.

Birds become disoriented; they feel the fifteen-minute switching on of electricity as a full day of light. Such a program reduces feed consumption by 6%, saves energy by 70%, reduces mortality, reduces the hyperactivity of the livestock, and fights are reduced to 10%.

But there is also a drawback - the size of the eggs decreases by one and a half percent.

Profitability

When using IR lamps to heat a chicken coop, we can safely talk about their profitability, because even in the coldest winters they are able to provide decent heating for a room with poultry.

This can be explained by the high efficiency value, which can be achieved by transferring heat directly to the chickens and objects in the poultry house, and not to the surrounding air.

In such conditions, not only the egg production of laying hens increases, but also the intensity of development of young birds increases.

If necessary, IR lamps can be used for spot heating (for example, an area of ​​a chicken coop with small chickens), but even if you install several elements in the center of the ceiling, then you don’t have to worry about the uniformity of heat distribution.

To achieve this effect using alternative heating sources, you will have to spend more electricity, and therefore more money.