Infrared red heat lamps vs. regular red light bulbs.

liligo · Jun 3, 2013

I am new to BYC. I am also new to raising chickens. I have 7 week old Buff Orps (I got them when they were about 3 or 4 days old) and moved them outside 1 week ago with a 100 watt red heat lamp. From the day we brought them home, they were in our house with a heat lamp on 24/7. It is almost summer and is in 80's during day but night gets into 50's. I don't want to cook my babies so I bought a 25 watt red light bulb to keep on them at night instead of the 100 watt red heat lamp. They seemed agitated with the 25 watt red light and were all piling on top of each other in the corner of their coop, moving their beaks up and down along the corner as if trying to dig out. They have never acted like this before so I turned of the 25 watt regular bulb and they calmed down. As I said I don't want to over heat them but don't want them to be cold or stressed. They are very pet and calmed down as soon as they heard my voice. They come running when they see me and my husand and climb all over us. Obviously, they are not only hens with the purpose of having eggs, but they are pets with names. Is there a difference or danger w Infrared Red Heat Lamps vs. Regular Red colored light bulbs. Any suggestions or comments?

AmberRex · Jun 4, 2013

Hello!

!!!
I always use an infa-red heat lamp purely for the reason that they are sold partly for the purpose of keeping chicks warm. If you hang it higher up or make sure that the chicks have the space to move away from it if they need to then it should be just fine and seeing as you have the bulb I would use it over the regular bulb. As they get older or the weather becomes warmer then you can turn the heat lamp off during the day and put it back on at night. I hope this will help you somewhat...

SobbaChickens · Jun 4, 2013

I never used a red light, mine had 24/7 white heat lamp for the first few weeks. I've read a few things about the red light vs white light but my chicks ever seemed to mind. I changed back and forth between a 250w and a 125w bulb depending the the weather. They usually did not like the 250 though. My girls haven't had a heat lamp at all since they were around 4wks old, and they are outside in a brooder in my garage. I decided to only provide the heat lamp at night if the temp dropped mid 50s or lower. They aren't as delicate as some might think. Plus at 7wks they should really be getting their big girl feathers correct? Do they have something to roost on? Mine started roosting at 3wks.

ten chicks · Jun 4, 2013

liligo said:
I am new to BYC. I am also new to raising chickens. I have 7 week old Buff Orps (I got them when they were about 3 or 4 days old) and moved them outside 1 week ago with a 100 watt red heat lamp. From the day we brought them home, they were in our house with a heat lamp on 24/7. It is almost summer and is in 80's during day but night gets into 50's. I don't want to cook my babies so I bought a 25 watt red light bulb to keep on them at night instead of the 100 watt red heat lamp. They seemed agitated with the 25 watt red light and were all piling on top of each other in the corner of their coop, moving their beaks up and down along the corner as if trying to dig out. They have never acted like this before so I turned of the 25 watt regular bulb and they calmed down. As I said I don't want to over heat them but don't want them to be cold or stressed. They are very pet and calmed down as soon as they heard my voice. They come running when they see me and my husand and climb all over us. Obviously, they are not only hens with the purpose of having eggs, but they are pets with names. Is there a difference or danger w Infrared Red Heat Lamps vs. Regular Red colored light bulbs. Any suggestions or comments?

Infrared heat bulb is to keep chicks warm,and to discourage behavior problems like pecking at each other,and easier for them to sleep.You can monitor temp with a thermometer,or just by their body language,if piling up in corner,they are cold. If chicks are happy and warm,they will be walking ,eating and sleeping,they will be content.

Infrared red heat lamps vs. regular red light bulbs.

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