Few questions from a newbie I haven't found answers for yet.

[Loudawg11]

You could try a regular incandescent bulb.

Those don't produce as much heat

 

[barred2rock]

Those don't produce as much heat

Isn't that kind of the point? lol

 

[Loudawg11]

Isn't that kind of the point? lol

Yes but you don't get your Money's worth but I guess that doesn't matter in the case of a late night brooder-turning-into-chicken-fryer case!

 

[PD-Riverman]

So I'm testing the red heat lamp currently and it's almost 10pm here in sc and 70* and the temp in the brooder with the lamp all the way up on the brooder lamp stand and it is registering 110 :/
I'm gonna have to figure out a way to put it up higher...

Just go back up and re-read post 2 on the red heat lamp I think with 20+ brooders and raising 10,000 chicks I would have a idea on what is needed.---just trying to help.

 

[Jrobinsonmtplus3]

Just go back up and re-read post 2 on the red heat lamp I think with 20+ brooders and raising 10,000 chicks I would have a idea on what is needed.---just trying to help.

Won't a white light mess with their internal clock? I've also read some birds get a bit aggressive with it..

I think we've figured out a work around with some scrap wood I can make a taller attachment post to clamp the lamp to. Thanks!

 

[Nerdc0reRizing]

What wattage are you using? I had the same problem with the 250w red bulb, you don't need it that high if it's sitting close I went out and bought a 150w red and a 75w red and used the 150 w until the last few weeks. It was perfect

So I'm testing the red heat lamp currently and it's almost 10pm here in sc and 70* and the temp in the brooder with the lamp all the way up on the brooder lamp stand and it is registering 110 :/
I'm gonna have to figure out a way to put it up higher...

 

[PD-Riverman]

Won't a white light mess with their internal clock? I've also read some birds get a bit aggressive with it..

I think we've figured out a work around with some scrap wood I can make a taller attachment post to clamp the lamp to. Thanks!

If you feel so then do not do it this way? All I posted was the way I do it. The white Light has never been a problem at all for me with very few chicks dying out of 1000's. as I stated---I have had as many as 20+ brooders going at one time(abut 1/2 are white lights)---with 10,000 hatched in a little over 3 years alone----I did not just start. The red lights have Killed Many of chicks and Have burnt down many barns, pens, coops, etc. The Higher you raise the Hot Light the More of the brooder space you heat---the less they have to get away from the Heat which causes More problems. Think about this---a broody hen warms a area under her about the size of a plate in a huge coop or chicken yard for her dozen/15 chick----the Size of a plate(9 or 10" only)--she does not heat the whole yard. People get 4 chicks and a 250 watt heat bulb and heat a little plastic tote then wonder what the problem is when their chicks are dying, hiding behind the waterer, etc. Its crazy.
If a person is going to use a red bulb at least get the 125 watt---or better yet make a hover brooder using a old heating pad(one that stays on) or similar that they can get under---this is even better.

 

[Jrobinsonmtplus3]

I was just thinking that after I typed it actually pd.
I think I'll make a TS run today and see what options I have.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I was just thinking that after I typed it actually pd.
I think I'll make a TS run today and see what options I have.

At least get a 125 watt red bulb if nothing else. I would Use a red 250 watt heat bulb in a 10ftx10ft square building/coop or bigger with several hundred chicks---would work good there but they are just to hot for a small brooder. I have told this many times----some pay it no attention---I have raised many chicks(where I only have a few chicks) under a 25 watt incandescent bulb in a hanging fixture about 3" to 4" off the floor--in the winter, in a unheated brooder room, to get the temp right under the light with GREAT results. Good Luck!

 

[lazy gardener]

I agree with PDR. A heat lamp of that wattage is simply not called for. And it eats up the electricity, while possibly overheating the chicks. If you have to raise it way up, it will be heating the whole brooder. The purpose of any heat system for chicks is to provide only enough heat in a small area. the rest of the brooder needs to be much cooler so the chicks can escape the heat. Consider Mama Broody hen. The only heat her chicks get is directly under her. And they don't spend much time under her! They duck under for a quick warm up, then they are back out, tumbling through the yard, learning to be chickens at what ever the temp du Jour happens to be. A system that closely mimics a broody heat is a heating pad cave. @Blooie has an excellent article and thread that will explain the many benefits of such a system.