brooder lights

[PonderingHen]

As I look through all the pic's on here I find myself confused on what type of light to use in a brooder do i use the red light or the white light?

 

[PandoraChick]

Use the red. The white lights can cause them stress if used all day long..It is easier for them to sleep at night with the red light. I had read somehwere that when using a white light 24/7 it can cause them stress and promote cannibalism/excessive pecking.

 

[PonderingHen]

yes i have read that aswell and i deffo dont want any chicks having chick nuggets for lunch !! thx

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I use a regular, white incandescent bulb and have never had any picking/cannibalism problems. In my opinion, those issues are usually from lack of space + the light being on all the time (the light exacerbates the problem bc they're up all the time and picking more). Picking issues can start without a light if you're lacking on space.
If you do buy the red light, be careful. I've noticed that the brooder bulbs sold in TSC/co-op (specifically for chicks) are shatter resistant. That means they're coated with teflon. The teflon off gases when heated (yep, your non-stick teflon pans do it too). That gas will give you more problems than any white light ever will...

 

[PonderingHen]

hmm very interesting thx bunches

 

[uphilljill]

I was only able to find red lights in 250 watts, which was waaay too hot for our in-basement brooder. Heated up the whole room and wasted a lot of electricity. Probably better for outside. After a week we switched to a regular 100 watt white light. No problems with pecking. I've also been trying out a Lutron Plug-in Lamp Dimmer (300 watt version about $10) for the first time:




I find it to be an easier way to adjust temperature than physically raising & lowering the light.

 

[Arizona Son]

I was only able to find red lights in 250 watts, which was waaay too hot for our in-basement brooder. Heated up the whole room and wasted a lot of electricity. Probably better for outside. After a week we switched to a regular 100 watt white light. No problems with pecking. I've also been trying out a Lutron Plug-in Lamp Dimmer (300 watt version about $10) for the first time:




I find it to be an easier way to adjust temperature than physically raising & lowering the light.

great idea! I never would've thought of that!

 

[speckly chicken]

I was only able to find red lights in 250 watts, which was waaay too hot for our in-basement brooder. Heated up the whole room and wasted a lot of electricity. Probably better for outside. After a week we switched to a regular 100 watt white light. No problems with pecking. I've also been trying out a Lutron Plug-in Lamp Dimmer (300 watt version about $10) for the first time:




I find it to be an easier way to adjust temperature than physically raising & lowering the light.

Thanks for the tip on light wattage. I've only been able to find red lights in 50 or 250 watts and wasn't sure what to go with. But I think in our northern climate a 250watt will work well in our basement- I'm getting my first chicks in 2 weeks and there's still some snow on the ground! Thanks for the info.

 

[Peggy O]

We are using an infared 250 without any issues.

I have been wondering though, would a red decorative backyard spotlight/floodlight work? If so it would be a much lower wattage than the infared 250, and maybe have similar benefits to an infared lamp? Just popped into my head when I was at the store looking at bulbs. Anyone try this? Would that be an option? The 250 is a major waste of electricity, we have it about 2 1/2 feet off the floor because it is so hot.

 

[Peggy O]

PS ~ speckly chicken, where were you able to find a red 50? I wold buy one if I saw one. I have been looking all over for something lower wattage.