Can you use Ceramic reptile heater bulbs for chicks?

[baxamama]

We are planning to get a few day old chicks in a month or so. My son was curious if we can use a ceramic bulb for a heat source? I have not seen any threads about that. We have many reptiles that we have white light in day and red at night because they cant see red light and it doesn't interfere with the normal day/night schedule. Can chicks see in red light? . Ceramic bulbs give off heat but emit no light... Like a mama bird. Just wondering. So many questions for a newbie like me!

 

[fisherlady]

baxamama,
I don't know the answer to your question but I would sure like to! I can't think of any reason they wouldn't work... brinsea makes a heat pad that the chicks go under for heat instead of a lamp, so it's not like they actually need the light 24/7.

I'll watch to see if anyone else chimes in.

Good luck with your new chicks!

 

[baxamama]

It sounds logical, I sure hope some one else knows too!

 

[conny63malies]

If you have some flexwatt and a Johnson thermostat laying around somewhere you could build your own incubator too. I have used ceramic heaters, flexwatt and heat cable taped around one half of the brooder hour chicks before. Just make sure you can adjust the temp as they get older.

 

[baxamama]

We have a couple digital thermometers for our reptile habitats.. These should work as well.. Thanks for the help!

 

[Chambertin]

We used a red light and the chicks were almost as responsive as under a white light.
Many people debate the benifits of one light source to the other (white vs red) and alothough I have used both I like the red one for heat.
Just seems more relaxing, to everyone.
Most importantly to those of us who can see the light through the windows at night.