250 watt heat lamp to close or to far

[3riverschick]

Get that 250 watt bulb out of that brooder !!!
it's too hot, you will cook them!
hyroler is correct .
here's the problem .
red heat lamps and incandescent bulbs work in two different ways. The heat bulb is designed to heat "objects" within its sphere of influence. it Heats objects. the incandescent bulb just sheds light as a "side effect" of being on . it sheds a gentle heat but doesn't "directly" heat objects.
this is why you're going to cook these chicks! Hyroler is right. get yourself a 60 -125 watt incandescent bulb .
Make sure you do not get a " rugged "
or "outdoor bulb as some of these are Teflon coated. check the package. a teflon-coated bulb will out gas carbon monoxide and poison any age chicken overnight.
Best,
Karen

 

[blayt90]

My issue with the heat lamp wasn't so much that it scared me, but I didn't feel I could just hang it in one place and have the control I wanted over the temperature. I brooded chicks in my coop in the end of March with a heat lamp and brooder box. (Specially built by my DH). I was constantly raising and lowering the thing, depending on the temperatures outside. It got down to 28* one night and I was worried that they'd pile under it, so I lowered it enough to melt the plastic frame of the thermometer! (The chicks were fine.) But during the day when it got to 65*, I'd raise it "just to be sure" they could get out of the heat. I love the MHP, because I don't have to worry about it. They are in a 4' x 8' section of coop - no brooder to speak of. I actually have 2 MHPs, a waterer and feeder in there and they still have plenty of room to roam. It's a great setup!

I have mine in a brooder I built that is 4'x8' and one end is enclosed to a 4'x4' box with my MHP in it and open wire bottom and sides for the rest of it. I have one waterer and a long feed tray in there. But like I said I have ducklings

 

[Ecgberht]

How close did you have heat lamp ?Was it 250watts?you said in co-op so chicks could move away from heat and I'm sure there was airflow.
He has 250watt bulb less than 2feet away in a 3ft. X 3ft box .I'm telling you he is cooking them.

They have room to get in and out if heat that picture was only of corner where the heat lamp was but we raised lamp till thermometer read a proper temperature

 

[Ecgberht]

I will keep close eye tonight and find find a way smaller bulb tomorrow

 

[Ecgberht]

Also i checked temperture again and they have access to tempatures as low as 70 and has high 95 in Fahrenheit

 

[Hyroler]

I missed the post where it says the lamp is less than 2 feet away and a 3' x 3' box... If that is the case, then yes - it is too close and they will cook.

i was going by picture that was posted.In picture light is right on top of chicks

 

[Akrnaf2]

View attachment 1359785 View attachment 1359785

250W?!? You want to bake them?

 

[Hyroler]

250W?!? You want to bake them?

Thats what im saying! 250watts is way to much but he says they are ok.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Also i checked temperture again and they have access to tempatures as low as 70 and has high 95 in Fahrenheit

I used a 250 w bulb for my chicks. I put a thermometer right below the heat lamp and made sure they had a cooler area to go to.
Watch their behavior as well as the thermometer. If they are huddled together right under the lamp, they are cold. If they are under the lamp but are not huddled and are acting lethargic or panting, they are too hot. If they are laying around the outside range of the heat lamp, it is time to raise it.

 

[Akrnaf2]

You can get exactly the same affect with 60W lamp.