Brooder Heat Lamp

[Missa Chickabee]

Since electricity produces X amount of heat, when resisted Y, it never is more or less efficient. It's pure math.

The main attraction for me, in considering ceramic, in the future, would be safety, I think. I also am concerned about the future availability of bulbs generally. The red infrared bulbs also have a reasonably short life-span. It seems logical to assume that a ceramic emitter, while a bit pricey up front, would provide many seasons of heat? Those are my thoughts. That it produces no light is also a good thing, in my universe. We shall see

Fred, I am with your line of thinking. Every day I am thinking to myself...how much longer will all our luxuries (even the mill-bought chicken feed) be available for us.
The thought of these kinds of things has had my anxiety level up lately. Although we have acreage we are so very far from being self-suffincient.

As for the heat lamp, I like the red bulb because the babies do, but I wish I could get one around here less than 250 watts. It gets too hot sometimes, even jacked high up.

This is the first flock of my own and I am hoping to just let the broodies do the work of providing heat from here on in. (I have BO's and leghorns)

 

[aoxa]

Yes, Fred...I was thinking that if I got my "kiddos" now (fall), they'd be ready to lay in spring.  Is my thinking correct?  I was hoping to avoid waiting until next August before the new batch started laying.

Am I just trying to "fool with mother nature"?

Last September I bought a few 8 week old pullets who started to lay in January - so I don't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Yes, I bought a box of 25 Bovan Browns/Golden Buffs (red/gold sex links) in September, let's see, three years ago. I thought it would be great to have a batch of layers out of sync with the spring chickens. Brooding in September/October was no worse than March/April, as Michigan, being surrounded by water, is slow to cool down in fall. But, boy oh boy, when it does by December through February, we're talking nights that dip to -25F quite often. The chicks did fine.

Since they were layers and their production was desperately needed, I lit them at the 14 week mark and they came into POL at 17 weeks, around mid January and were graduated from the pullet egg stage by the end of the month.

There's not a thing wrong with brooding fall chicks. Go for it, it you need them. That's my point. But......Feed is skyrocketing and I'm only going to winter feed choice breeding stock and first year pullet layers. Just cannot afford to carry 40-50 birds through the winter anymore. There's no range here from November through March, and I don't heat the barn, so caloric intake produces body heat. My philosophy is slowly, methodically changing, ever so perceptibly to quality, over quantity.

 

[Shelz]

Thanks to all of you,,,,very good info here....its been a great help ro me.......which makes me think of my next question.....since the chicks will be brooded in the house for several weeks...and by the time they will be all feathered out....am I going to be able to take them from the house and put them outside in the coop??? By that time, temps outside will probably be pretty darn cold, and the chicks wont be acclimated to such a change of temps. What do I do?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Transition period. Don't move them from 75 inside air to 40 outside air in one step.

There are a number of ways to do this. Move them to an attached garage at 5 weeks, as attached garages are typically warmer than outside, but cooler than inside. Or, string an exterior extension cord out to the coop and finish their brooding out there. That's probably the best way. Only give them the heat lamp at night. During the day time, it will likely be in the 50F or 60F and they won't need any heat at all during the day, not at 5 weeks, as they'll be feathered out.

Raise the heat lamp at night after week 5 for the remainder of weeks 6 and possibly 7. Then? That's it. They're on their own. Better to allow them to adjust to 40 degrees at night while there is still time. They'll actually improve their feathering faster. It's true. Fall chicks need to be pushed into cool weather as fast as you can. Toughen them up. The real stuff is coming and they will get ready and be ready, as long as you don't pamper them in October and November.

 

[Shelz]

Alright,,,gotcha,,,,I get the idea...I knew it had to be a gradual thing. I didnt realize they would mature quite so fast lol.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay...I just bought one of the ceramic heat emitters. I'm going to set it up out there w/a thermometer under it to see what readings I'm getting. Don't have chicks yet...this will just be the test run.

Here's the one I got:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003HEIMGU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

 

[chicksooner]

http://www.petco.com/product/111475...r:adType=pla&gclid=CJby6ceCs7ICFQgGnQodxzYAcw

hey guys this is the one brand I used with the reptiles most. very reliable, even heating and good at holding temp. No hot spots like some "made in china" brands.

Do you just screw this into the brooder lamp? I am brooding inside as well and the brooder bulbs the farm store sold are too warm. 150w might be just what I need.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Just make sure the socket is ceramic or designed for high temperatures. Some of the cheaper sockets in these holders and lamps are plastic and are a severe fire danger if using higher output bulbs. Just sayin'.

 

[chicksooner]

Just make sure the socket is ceramic or designed for high temperatures. Some of the cheaper sockets in these holders and lamps are plastic and are a severe fire danger if using higher output bulbs. Just sayin'.

Thanks. That's what I have. So the ceramic heat emitter will work with the brooder lamps I have. Does any one know if they carry them in the store.