Is a red 250-watt heat lamp too much for 12 chicks?

[BWchicken]

I have 12 bantam chicks coming in 3 weeks from Mypetchicken.

I have the typical canopy-like hanging brooder lamp with a red 250-watt heat bulb. I think that may be overkill on the heat though, and if I raise it too much the light field will cover the whole brooder. Should I just get a red 125-watt heat bulb instead? What wattage would you use for 12 or so chicks?

Oh, and I'll have the brooder inside my house in a small room. It's a very large Rubbermaid-type tote with wheels, approximately 20"X42" and about 2 feet high.

Thanks!

 

[eggdicted]

i got mine in a 3 foot by 4 foot shipping box with one 250 watt on all the time in one end as close to the end as i can get it and a second for cool nights it stays around 95 to 100 on that end and about 80 on the other as long as they can get away from the heat they should be fine maybe put a thermometer in there check all the corners
there all standing at that end cause the cameras flash not cause there cold

 

[BantyRooster]

Quote:
That's alot of heat for that small of a brooder. Watch your chicks. They will tell you if they are too hot or cold. If they are open beaked and panting at the far end they are too hot. If they are all bunched up they are too cold. Make sure they can get out from under the light. Also, make sure you have a solid means of securing the light and adjusting its height.

Good luck withh your new chicks!

 

[Judy]

You are in Texas, and it is July. Why on earth not just brood them outdoors? It is already hot enough during the day, and they would need little supplemental heat at night.

Of course, they would need shelter from rain, in a coop, a shed, a garage, whatever. But heat should be a minimal problem. A red 40W party bulb from WalMart should be enough for nights for a very few weeks. No way you need a 250W heat lamp.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
250W bulb is too strong for most indoor operations, if you raise it up enough not to overheat chicks it's OK, but it would be an energy hog and a potential fire hazard if not set in porceline socket and very securely mounted.

They were reports of barns fire on this board caused by 250W bulbs unattended overnight.

I run mine through a dim switch lowering it's output at least 50% or more.

Best to use 125W infrared, but I could not get one locally.

 

[lux_interior]

I've always used 250 watt, even for as few as 2 chicks in a brooder. Just make sure it is raised high enough, I keep mine clamped on a high shelf above the chicks which are on a small table. Watch for signs, huddling = cold, hiding around the edges in shadows = hot.

 

[Davis5454]

Watch the temp.....don't start a fire.....the rest is just what you prefer.

The red will help keep them from fighting more than a white....so i wouldn't worry too much about it covering the whole box. Mine covered the box and the chicks did great. Be ready though....they will outgrow their box fast. It seemed like I was upgrading several times until they were put in their permanent home. Next time the brooder box goes straight into the pen until they can handle the drafts and be let out.

I agree with the guy / gal who said take them outside and use mother nature to help offset cost though. Use a small red bulb and the natural temp to get them going in a garage if possible.

I used an outdoor thermometer and just watched the birds.....their huddling under or moving away from the light told the rest of the story.

 

[Katy]

This time of year I use a 25 watt bulb for the first week and then nothing unless it's cooler at night. Watch so you don't cook them under that hot of a bulb.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Those clamps can fail easily. Be sure there is a secondary means by which the lamp is secured so it won't fall onto the litter and start a fire.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

The 250 watt bulb was too much for my four chicks. Their box was, oh, about 2 ft x 3 ft. I had a thermometer in there and it read 95 degrees as recommended, but it was just too hot for them. I think that + too much electrolyte powder is why we had a bout of Pasty Butt.

I then bought a 150-watt bulb which was better, but even so, within a week or so we replaced it with a 40-watt bulb. As others have said, you can kind of tell how comfortable they are by where they position themselves in regard to the heat lamp. All in all, mine seemed happier at temps 5-10 degrees below what is generally recommended even though the room they were in is north side of the house and cool.

Maybe because mine are standard breeds? Different perhaps for bantams?