Does a brooder have to have red light

[krthaymp]

I’m being told that a brooder has to have a red flood style heat bulb by someone but I don’t see anything to support that. They just need a heat source, right? Preferably a heat plate or heat emitter that doesn’t send out constant light? I thought that red light helps disguise injuries and thus prevent potential picking issues, but is it necessary in the brooder or is a 27/7 heat emitter ok without an additional light source?

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

No a red light isnt needed and ive never actually used one in my time chicken keeping.
I use a regular light bulb in my heat lamp holder just as they cant knock it out. Then use a Rent a Coop brooder plate. But there are many that work the same.

 

[nuthatched]

I use a lizard heat bulb, no light.
Constant light cam cause issues.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

A red lamp/light reduces the chances of injury from pecking. Red spots such as blood or a healing abdomen may encourage pecking. A red light makes these more difficult to see.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

We use a white light during the day and a red light at night. It's my understanding (and my experience) that chickens don't see well in red light, so at night when we want them to settle down we use the red. We switch out the lights using separate lamp housings, give them a few minutes to settle down, and then change out their totes, replacing the puppy pee pads, refreshing the food and water, etc. Much easier when they're calm and sleepy!

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Yes. This a good point. We give them white light during the day and especially after a couple of weeks. We leave the heat lamp on for heat and during the day we add some white light. If there is an injury we would leave the white light off.

 

[Debbie292d]

We use a black ceramic heat bulb. The brooders also have an LED light in them too, but that gets shut off at night so it's dark.

 

[rosemarythyme]

No red light is "necessary" and no light is needed at night either as long as they have a heat source they can access before it gets dark.

 

[krthaymp]

@BigBlueHen53 so you use disposable dog training pads for yours? Have you had any trouble with it? I know better than to use newspaper, and was going to use aspen shavings. The same person who told me it's required to have a red light also told me I can't use puppy pads, as the chicken's toes can get caught. It was originally what I was going to do to.

Thanks all for weighing in. Amazing how much a small bit of unsolicited 'advice' can make us question everything.

I'll proceed with what I have (The CHE) for heat and get a red bulb if I see any injuries. They'll be near a window (no direct light though) so should not need a light source during the day.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

@BigBlueHen53 so you use disposable dog training pads for yours? Have you had any trouble with it? I know better than to use newspaper, and was going to use aspen shavings. The same person who told me it's required to have a red light also told me I can't use puppy pads, as the chicken's toes can get caught. It was originally what I was going to do to.

Thanks all for weighing in. Amazing how much a small bit of unsolicited 'advice' can make us question everything.

I'll proceed with what I have (The CHE) for heat and get a red bulb if I see any injuries. They'll be near a window (no direct light though) so should not need a light source during the day.

I use puppy pads and dont have a problem until they start to peck them which is a bit after 2 weeks.