white or red heat lamp

Red works better for very young chicks, keeps the pecking to a minimum and settles them better than a bright white light. I would use a 250 watt bulb and just raise and lower it until you find the right height to where they don't pile as much. Then raise it as they grow and need less heat. An easy way to tell is they will all pile on each other in the center of the light it's to high and low temp. When they move to the perimeter of the lighted area they are fine and the temp is correct, if they move to the far outside areas of the or walls then it's too hot and the temp is too high, that is when they begin to peck at each other and start causing each other problems. Hope that help's.

The white or the red will provide the same amount of heat, however, the red seems to be preferable for allowing them to be able to sleep and for masking the color of blood if one gets a little injury.  Masking the blood is important as they will all go after it, the little carnivores

Yay Chicks! :

The white or the red will provide the same amount of heat, however, the red seems to be preferable for allowing them to be able to sleep and for masking the color of blood if one gets a little injury.  Masking the blood is important as they will all go after it, the little carnivores

X2 I used the RED

When my chicks started getting too warm with the 250 watt red light (I had raised it already), I tried yellow and white with lower wattages, but they would get a little crazy and aggressive with the non-red lights.  I like the red, so I picked up a 60 watt and 25 watt red bulb--they are hard to find and are incandescent and fluorescent, but if you look around the stores you can find them for when you need them.  When I put them in the coop at 5 weeks, they still used them just incase they needed the heat, plus it was a good nightlight.

I use only red, it helps them sleep better and helps you sleep too if it's in the house, lol.
I've used a white bulb before, but it really kept the chicks up. Just doesn't seem to work as well as a red light.

Also, check the sticker on that metal holder, you may be limited to what KIND of bulb and the WATTS you can even use with it.

definately red

Red for chicks and blue for ducks.

The red helps to cut on on the chicks pecking on each other and it is much easier on their eyes than white.

I have heard before that Red heat lamps are better for them because it provides more heat and such. I bought both Red and White ones for my own and they seemed to like the Red one better. So I would say Red :)