An Amazing Thing - white light vs. red light

[JackieK318]

Until a few days ago, I used a small lamp with a white bulb for my silkies as their heat lamp. The white female sure was grouchy. I just took the red lamp off of the big girls (since they're fully feathered) and put it on the silkies. Now the Silkies both run up to me, will let me pet them and even will roost/snooze on my arm. This is proof in my book that white light makes them more agitated - as mentioned on multiple websites.

 

[bigzio]

Jackie, I have to agree that the red light is superior to the white. Most can get by with the white, however if their is a crowding or space issue of any kind..... Red is the best color to use hands down.

bigzio

 

[countrygirl4513]

Totally! I've used red lamps too. It makes a world of difference!

 

[Agilityscots]

So do you turn on any white light at all? I ask because my 2.5 week old chicks are in my basement in a brooder, and I have a red heat lamp on them. However, during the day I turn on the white fluorescent lights in the basement to simulate "daytime". Should I just be leaving the heat lamp on and nothing else? My two Dominique chicks sure do thump on the others, but I'm not sure how much of this is normal chicken behavior since these are my first chickens. They chase one another around, knock each other roosts and the like...

Amy

 

[Judymae]

If you want to take pics with the red light on your chicks you just turn the red-eye on your camera. You won't even be able to tell!

 

[JackieK318]

I do turn on the light in the garage during the day for them, but I had the white lamp directly on them like a heat lamp. I think because it was in their faces, it caused their reaction. I've heard the Dominiques sometimes tend to be the dominate chicks/chickens. So, they may be just trying for top chicken. I think the run for top chicken started around 3 weeks in my house.

 

[Agilityscots]

Maybe that's what my girls are doing, then; the games have begun for Reining Queen Pullet.

Amy