Bulb in brooder

[cattbird]

Hello

Just a quickie, Could anyone tell me what Watt the bulb needs to be in the brooder when the chicks first go in?

I cant afford a propper one, will one or two normal lamps be okay?

Also, are there any benefits to having a red light?

Thanks .

 

[firedove]

I use a 100 w clear bulb in a normal ceramic socket for my brooders at first and decrease the wattage as the chicks get older. I think the ceramic socket was like $2 at Home Depot then I bought a small extension cord, striped off the female end and wired it to the socket and attached the socket to the brooder wall. My brooders are plastic containers though and I can adjust the covers from screen to mostly solid to change the temps if necessary. In the larger brooders you need stronger lamps. Lots of people prefer to use a 250 watt red heat bulb.

Red lights calm the chicks, reduce picking and do not disrupt their sleeping. White bulbs can agitate chicks causing them to not sleep enough and do a lot of picking. I have found if I use a clear bulb my chicks don't pick and they seem to sleep just fine. I did try a white bulb once and had problems, switched back to clear, problems solved.

 

[Judy]

One or two normal lamps are fine. The wattage you need depends on a lot of factors, like, is the brooder indoors or out. You need whatever it takes to get it up to about 35 degrees C. Decrease temp about 3.2 degrees C each week.

 

[Chickn chick 46]

Hi, I had to do alot of messing around with my light to get the temp right.

Like the others have said it depends on your brooder. I have a clear storage box with a red 85watt flood light and it works just fine.

Good luck!

 

[cattbird]

Thanks for your replies.