Lower wattage red heat lamps

[brandywine]

So, I was looking and looking for a red heat lamp that is less than 250 watts.

It's warm at night here, and in a smaller brooder, or with few chicks, the big red bulb is certainly overkill. Could be literally. The regular light bulbs kept them up all night.

Checked feed stores, hardware stores, big box home centers. No dice.

Then I went to the pet supply store to get some cat food and WELL DUH!

Reptile bulbs. They had them in 40, 60, 75, 100, 150 and 200 watt.

Worst thing is, I KNEW about these, I've raised reptiles in the past, worked in pet supply stores. When I tell the youngsters that I've forgotten more about <insert subject matter here> than they will ever know, I'm speaking literally these days.

I bought a 75 watt red bulb with a shatterproof coating (nice feature!) for about the same price as the big ones at the feed store. It's perfect for my few guineas out in the mudroom brooder.

They also have ceramic heaters that screw into a porcelain socket just like a light bulb. These are spendy, but they last forever -- good choice if you brood a lot.

 

[miss_jayne]

thank goodness i saw this...i thought i would loose my mind over that bulb. it was smoking hot and i thought i would have KFC before i got these chicks out of the brooder!

good post!

 

[NightHeronFarm]

I have also been having the same problem. Summer in Southern California plus a 250 watt brooder lamp makes for cooked chicks. So I stepped down to a 100 watt white bulb and have had comfortable but WAY overly active chicks at night. I swear there has been a party complete with disco lights going on every night in the brooder. I haven't slept well for days!

Thanks for the heads up on the reptile lights Brandywine, I just went over to www.reptilesupply.com and ordered the following:

Dimmable (temp adjusting, how cool is that!) Clamp Lamp:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=1555

Nocturnal Red 150 watt Heat Bulb:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=136

Precision Analog Reptile Thermometer:
http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=80

Thanks!!!

 

[brandywine]

Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! The dimmable clamp lamp is IT!

I know that wasn't available back when I had scaly critters.

Let us know how it performs.

 

[NightHeronFarm]

Will do! It should arrive tomorrow or Monday. I have some Silkie chicks in the brooder (will be three weeks old on Monday) and I'm looking for some Ameraucana (preferably bantams with great temperaments) hatching eggs for the next round. An eagle biologist friend has a good incubator I can borrow. First batch of chicks came from MPC but the bug has bitten me and I would like to learn how to raise from day zero.

I also have been doing some research on the ideal brooder setup (good space, expandable, draft protection but good ventilation, easy to clean, easy to access chicks without swooping down from above etc..) and will be trying out a new scenario soon. If it works out then pics and more info to follow...

More soon and thanks again for the tip!

 

[NightHeronFarm]

So it has been about a week with the new dimmable clamp lamp and I love it! You can read all about it here...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=884862#p884862

 

[New2Peeps]

Reptile bulbs are perfect for a small number of chicks--I used a red 75 watt one in my little tupperware brooder and the temperature was perfect.

 

[DawnSuiter]

I just got 85 watt Red FLOODLIGHTs for my step down from walmart...

oh so much LESS electricity used! and still pretty warm!

 

[Jarhead]

Here is also an option. A thermostat that will work on any of the fixtures and bulbs. Plug this into the wall then plug the fixture into this, drop the probe where the chicks are, set the temp. Keeps it a constant temp right were you want it. I had one of these for my aquarium (it is UL listed to work in water or air), I took it off and used it in the brooder. I put a regular thermometer in there to make sure it was working right. It keeps the temp within 1/2 a degree of were you set it. All it does is turn the device plugged into it on and off to keep the desired temp. Perfect for a brooder.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/HY-T03301.html

 

[Shogun99]

Thanks for the idea on where to get the red light for the lamp. As posted earlier today, my golden chick is getting beaten up by all the black chicks and its terrible for the little guy. Hopefully things will abate with a red light.

HOOAH!