brooder lamp max 60 watt

[NewChkinTown]

Would a 60 watt heat emitter bulb be sufficient for 4 chicks in a brooder?

 

[RoosterML]

I had trouble getting the temp right with a heat lamp for some reason. Now that I've switched to a 100 watt bulb, I can keep it pretty even at 90-95 degrees for our chicks. They are currently in the garage, with a back up heater going to keep it nice and toasty. Here are a couple of pics of our new gang....all brown egg layers....two Barred Rocks, two Red Sex Links, and 2 Buff Orps. They are pretty amazing already!

Do worry to much about the temp being off some. It doesn’t have to be exact. If it’s to hot they will move away and if you see them staying away you can raise the lamp. If they are huddled under the lamp chirping they are cold and you lower the lamp. I don’t worry to much about temps. Loud chicks tell you all you need to know. Enjoy

 

[RoosterML]

Would a 60 watt heat emitter bulb be sufficient for 4 chicks in a brooder?

I don’t see why not. Read my previous post and that should serve you well.

 

[aart]

Would a 60 watt heat emitter bulb be sufficient for 4 chicks in a brooder?

Not fond of a the heat emitters, found they are very hot right underneath but 'circle of warmth' is small and cools quickly towards perimeter.

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.

The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. If you do use a heat bulb make sure it's specifically for poultry, some heat bulbs for food have teflon coatings that can kill birds. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.


Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate