Heat lamp is so hot!!!!

[pacificrose]

I am or what to use a Sylvania infrared heat lamp 250 watts and 120v it is an R40 for a bathroom the package says, I have it at lest 18 inches from the ground and it is over 40C or 100F under the bulb is this normal ??? Help seems way way to hot!

 

[chickenbythesea]

how old are your chicks? If they're too hot... laying with wings out-panting... the raise up the lamp... keep raising it an inch at a time (waiting a bit in between) till you get to the point where they're running around the brooder acting like little chickens. You'll know you went to high up if they all huddle under the lamp on top of each other. With the summer heat are you sure they even need a lamp? Hope this helps some.

 

[Stephanie739]

My chicks are just under 1 week old. My heat lamp is about 3 feet from their box, but it is hot in the room where they are located (no AC) I turn off the lamp during the day sometimes... like chickenbythesea said, if they get cold, they will pile on top of each other.

 

[pacificrose]

Thanks I do not have birds under this one yet and it will be turkeys I and just wondering about the lamp is a a infrared heat lamp a infrared red heat lamp if you get is at a feed store or a hardware store??

 

[Stephanie739]

I use a red heat lamp bulb (250 watts) from Tractor Supply.

 

[chickenbythesea]

same here... just a regular heat lamp from a farm store.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

We use ceramic heat emitters, they put off no light at all, they don't stop working as quickly as bulbs do, and they don't pop and break if water hits them.

 

[chickenlover89]

just watch the chicks, when mine where under a week, they prefered it at 85F-90F, but if it ever got up to 95F they would pant and be very stressed. so just adjust your heat lamp to your chicks, the thermometer can tell you one thing, but the chicks will really tell you if they're hot or cold.

 

[Judy]

I believe even very young chicks will be too hot at 100 degrees. "Just watch your chicks" is exactly right -- that, and make sure they have a cooler place to move to. They will vary in how warm they want their world. Mine never wanted it as warm as that chart of 90-95 x 1 week, then reduce. Don't be surprised if they are ready to live outdoors without heat by 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It's July. Short of living on a mountain top or within shouting distance of the Arctic circle no one in the northern hemisphere should be needing to use a 250 watt bulb for only a handful of chicks.

There is no set wattage to use for brooding. It all depends on your local ambient temperature, how many chicks you are brooding, the size of their brooder, and the nature of the airflow within it.

Go by the behavior of the chicks to determine if they are too hot or cold. They'll tell you what you need to know.

This is what you are looking for:

Chances are a 100w bulb or even smaller will get the job done for you. You'll soon figure it out.