Red Heat Lamp vs 150 Watt Flood Light Bulb

[CK Chickadilly]

What is better to use in a brooder & why?

How warm does a red heat lamp get?

Thanks!

 

[william9792]

need to use a red light, white light will stress the chicks out if left on them all the time

 

[Akane]

150watts is 150watts when we're talking about incandescents. The heat is nearly always the same. The fixture and reflector will make more difference in heat than the color of the bulb. The color of the bulb though determines how active or awake the chickens are.

I've only had problems with 1 batch of chicks in white light and it was solved by just giving them more to do. I threw in a stick and started giving them some treats and they stopped pecking each other. Red light can reduce pecking and keep chicks calmer but I prefer to just give them space and keep them entertained like I would my adult chickens in the coop. Chicks can get bored.

The only reason I have been using red is that I'm debating whether it's good for the chicks to be under 24/7 light with no chance to sleep. That usually does bad things to animals and slows growth. I know people have kept chicks under light for a long time and they do pass out randomly and sleep at times throughout the day and night but I still don't really like it. A 150w bulb is way too hot for my indoor brooders though and bulbs in the 60-100 watt range are hard to find in red. For now mine are started under white light for the first week or 2 until I can use the red 40w bulb I have. Then the chick brooders are near the button pens which have lights on timers so the chicks get white daylight spectrum light for the 12-14hrs the quail do and red incandescent light at night for heat.

 

[tim_TX]

The red lamp discourages pecking and cannibalism. I always use at least 1 extra lamp in case one goes out. The deal with temp, is that the chicks will find the temp that suit them at the time. That is, if they need warmth, they will go directly under a lamp. If they get hot they will move away. If all of the chicks are at the far reaches of the brooder guard, then your light may be too low. Conversely, if they are all huddled under the lamp, then its too high. I use 250 watt bulbs and hang them at 18 inches for the first week and then slowly raise them a couple of inches each week. Make sure you lamp fixture contains a porcelain socket! Reflector heat lamps can get hot enough to melt plastic and cause a fire. PS. My brooder house is unheated and not part of my home.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Wal-Mart, Lowes, and Home Depot carry 85 watt red flood lights. It is what I use and they get plenty warm enough for a small batch of chicks.

 

[pascopol]

I use 150W infrared bulb with reflector and a dim switch.

This way I can control amount of heat and save energy too.

Works great for me and chicks are happy with it, they can sleep well with dimmed red light and still get all the heat they need.

If you want to try that make shure your dim switch has power rating of min 150 Watts or use smaller bulb.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

Well thanks for all the GREAT info! I have unfortunately been having the chicks under the white light. Never thought about a red light & never read about....hmmmmm

Any way, I haven't had any picking & they seem to lay around & they must get some sleep. They are Silkies, about 10 weeks now.

I will know better coming up this spring when I have chicks to use a red light. I think using 2 of the lights is a good idea in case one burns out. Don't want frozen chickies.

They will be in a very cold barn, so could I use 3 red lamps? I cover the back of the 100 gallon tank with wood to keep the heat in, works pretty good too. Or is 2 enough?

Thanks guys!