Brooder light

[kramersailor]

What wattage bulb should I use over a brooder with four or five chicks

 

[mstricer]

I use an 100 watt red flood light. Whatever you use make sure the lamp is rated for what wattage bulb u use. Dont want an unnessary fire Have fun

 

[cmom]

I have a 250 watt brooder lamp with a red 250 watt heat lamp in it.

On reallt cold nights I have 2 / 250 watt red lamps on.

 

[FarmGirl01]

I use a red brooder light and a white brooder light (250) and I also use a ceramic heater made for reptiles. I use them at different times. When I need light and when I don't need any light. I use them at different stages of growth.

 

[Revelle]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but, it's the same topic! Mostly. 99%ly.

But, how do you keep the chickies from being afraid of the dark? Do the red lights help with that? (If they do, would I just be able to get a red light 24/7, or have a normal light on during day?)

 

[FarmGirl01]

I have the white light and the red light on at the same time. When the chicks are a week or so old I turn off the white light. If the temp goes down to much I use the heater to keep it warm. My setup is that after a few weeks (5 or 6) I leave my door open with only the ceremic heater on. As the sun sets it slowly gets dark. They soon feel ok in the dark at night. Everything is gradual.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Quote:
It depends on where your brooder is. If it is somewhere not heated you will need a 250 heat lamp bulb. If it is in the house where it is warmer, you won't need on that high of wattage. Just put a thermometer on the floor of your brooder to make sure you get the appropriate temps.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

I would think that the correct wattage would ONLY directly depend on the SIZE of the brooder in question.
What difference does it make whether there are 5 chicks or 500?

What works for one person may not be exactly what everyone else needs.

Ex:
I have 2 brooders going, 1 is 4x8x2 and needs a 250w bulb to work properly, there are 35 chicks in it.
The other is a 40 gallon fishtank with a 100w bulb, with 10 chicks.
The fishtank is in the unheated garage, but if I were to put the 250w bulb over them theyd cook, ans also if I were to use the 100w in the big brooder, theyd all freeze.



The best indicator of correct temps needs only to be a visual confirmation that the chicks arent piling up directly under the light, or trying to escape from it.
You want a nice even spread of chicks under WHICHEVER LIGHT SUITS YOU BEST.


A thermometer will only drive you nuts!