Another heat light question..

[Morgan7782]

So many questions, so little time. This website has become a regular hourly check in place for me at the moment can never learn too much!

I was wondering about wattage for heat lamps. My three chicks will be INSIDE the house until they are 2-3 weeks old, then will be moved to the garage (which is much colder). I was offered advice about getting a 250 watt bulb, but will that be too hot for the first two weeks they will be inside? Should I start with a 100 or 150 watt bulb and move to 250 watts when they are moved to the garage? Thanks

 

[homeschoolmama]

This is only my 2nd batch of chicks so I'm no expert, but I have 150w bulb. I didn't want to go higher since I bought a clamp on lamp w/ dimmer switch included (reptile section-Petsmart) and its max is 150w. My babies are out in the garage and we still are quite cold at night (20's) and they seem fine.

 

[MandyH]

If they are going to be inside away from any drafts and say you keep your house at 70 degrees, then you probably will only need say a 60 or 100 watt bulb. When they go outside where it's colder, depending on how cold it is and what age they are you may still get away with a 60 or 100 watt bulb. You can tell fairly quickly what they need by watching them. If they are cold they will huddle together right under the light, if they are too hot they will be as far away from the light as they can get, if they are comfortable they will just be peeping around doing chicky things all over the brooder.

 

[Morgan7782]

Thank you both for responding

I will go ahead with a 150 watt bulb, and adjust it as needed. I think it will be fairly warm here in Sacramento when April comes around. Right now the forecast is http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/95822?locid=95822 nights are 45-50 degrees and days are 65-70 degrees. Our house is kept fairly warm at 72/74 degrees. By the time I get the chickies I think it will have warmed up a lot more. Hopefully.