brooder heat lamp

[aladatrot]

I have a brooder which is about 14" deep from the wire lid to the wire floor. I have a brooder lamp that I can either set on the wire directly or suspend from a chain to hover above the wire lid. In the past, I have used a 250 watt infra red lamp bulb from the feed store, but they keep burning out and killing my chicks when it burns out during the night. What bulbs do you guys have good luck with, and can I use less wattage given my brooder height? 250 is a lot of power. I need to mention that the brooder is in a barn and that no wind can get to it.

Cheers
M

 

[MissAnnieFrannie]

Hey there! I am not sure exactly that the bulbs are your issue. I had a desk lamp once that would blow the bulb in a short amount of time no matter what kind of bulb I put in it, and it turned out there was a short in the lamp. Have you had the same problem with other lamps?

 

[Bullwinkle]

I've had good luck with the red heat lamps from TSC. In the past though when I have moved the chicks (at a couple weeks of age) to an outside building, I always use at least 2 heat lamps in case one were to burn out. I have noticed that the bulbs can't take any kind of a 'hit.' So for example, they didn't last long this winter when I hooked a couple up to provide extra heat for my full grown chickens.

I would recommend though that you purchase a new bulb with each batch of chicks (and not reuse bulbs). I keep my old bulbs for backups. I could be wrong, but I though TSC had 125 watt red bulbs also? Maybe use two 125 watt bulbs instead of a 250 in case one burns out?

 

[catdaddy66]

I have a red and white brooder lamp(s) w/ 250 watt bulbs. I plan on brooding indoors and feel the biiger wattage is TOO big!! I may use a 100 watt bulb to better manage the temperature. Good idea?

 

[aladatrot]

Thanks for the replies. This is a brooder lamp set up that I bought mid summer last year. It is the heavy duty one, not the little squidgy one you see at the hardware store.

Perhaps I should try a different lamp. I may as well try the two 125s rather than the one 250. That sounds like a better deal. I would hate to lose all the chicks I will be getting in a couple weeks.

My dear husband placed a nice order for me last week.... cuckoo marans, white leghorns, yokohamas (for my inside the main barn coop), and some cochins.

I'm pretty stoked!
Cheers
M