Brooder lighting

[plantguy90]

At the store, there was a 125watt IR brooder light that was not red. But another friend just grabbed a normal 85watt red floodlight and told me that was what he used. I keep it close enough to the ground so the temps are correct, but can someone explain the red light thing again? Does it make the chicks calmer? Would a non-red brooder light cause stress?

 

[rancher hicks]

The 250 wt light is for heat but also allows the chicks to sleep. Brooder chicks tend to grow faster because w/ a wht light they sleep little and eat alot. Also it helps to cut down on pecking by disquising colors that might entice chicks to pick. As long as the temp is 90 or so they should be fine. I put a thermometer at their level to keep track. Course I do have to use a magnifying glass to read it.
All the best

Rancher

 

[NancyinAlaska]

I've been using the 85 watt red light in my brooder for quite awhile now, the 250 watt is just too hot, and white lights cause all sorts of problems, the worst, picking. The red light disquises things and things more peaceful for the babies, that's what I was told????? right of wrong, it's worked for me.

 

[felidaet]

The wattage needed for the light depends upon various factors, such as the air temperature where the brooder is located, the type a material the brooder is made of, the size of the brooder, etc. I recommend that you setup your brooder, including the bedding, and test it a couple of weeks before you get the chicks. This gives you time to make any adjustments. For testing, turn on the heat lamp and leave it on for at least a couple of hours to allow time for the brooder to warm up. I completed setting up my new brooder this last Sat. I had the light on for about an hour and found it was not heating up enough. I lowered the lamp (only a couple of inches) and covered most of the top of the brooder with plywood. I let it set with the lamp on for a couple of more hours. The temperature is 96 degrees under the lamp. I will plug it in a couple of hours before I get my chicks to warm it up and then make any needed minor adjustments based upon how they act. I am using a 250 watt red heat lamp. My brooder is in the garage. Last year I used a metal tub smaller than my new brooder and it required (2) 250 watt heat lamps for the first couple of weeks.

I have about one more week to wait for my chicks...

 

[CrazyMomOf2]

I have the red heat lamps in with my chicks, but I turn on the overhead light for a few hours every day.