Instead of using a heat lamp in our chicken coop, we use a ceramic heat emitter typically used for reptiles. It doesn't light up so it won't affect the chickens' sleep pattern. It is also less fragile than a bulb, so there is less risk of it breaking and hurting the chickens. Using a lower wattage one, poses less of a fire hazard. It still needs to be kept as far away as possible from flammable items such as wooden walls and bedding.
The heat emitter screws into a clamp-style lamp, just like a heat lamp bulb. Because it gets warm, we covered the lamp with a piece of chicken wire so that our chickens don't burn themselves. You can plug it into a timer or a thermostat controlled outlet. It is perfect for cold winter nights!
