Heat lamp & nearly a fire - Alternatives?

[WilcoxChickens]

I know everyone has their own methods and a lot of people out there have YEARS of experience on raising chickens than I do (I just started this Spring) but I found that a regular clip on shop light with one of those metal dishes and a basic 60 watt bulb has worked just fine for me and my chicks. I do place a sheet of cardboard over a portion of the box to hold in heat but also leave part open to give my chicks a place to cool off if needed. So far so good since the clip keeps the lamp exactly where I need it to go.

~Pamella

 

[GhostRider65]

I bought a sweeter heater was pricey, but worth it my chicks loved it, used it after they flew the brooder, as a rehab for a hurt chick, I love it. here's the brooder set up with it.and my day olds now 9 weeks. It's 30 inches long and almost a foot wide, doesn't get hot to the touch, and can be easily ajusted by raising it up for temp.

 

[gale65]

Fred's Hens :

Being human nature, folks usually wait til the last minute to prepare, or just grab the heat lamp at TSC when buying their chicks, also on impulse, in many cases.

There are bulbs, some with thick, sturdy glass, in various colors and wattages, that are much safer than the ultra-thin glass on the typical 250 watt, red heat lamp. It just takes a little shopping and time to find them.

I didn't wait but I have done multiple searches here about which bulb to use and never heard of the ecoglow or any special thick bulbs. Last week I asked about which wattage I should use and no one mentioned it then either or any other types of bulbs either. Too bad. I didn't wait but since I didn't know this ecoglow or thick bulbs existed there isn't much I can do now-our chicks are coming on Friday. Hopefully the 250W bulb I bought will be ok. We ordered our chicks 2 mos ago so definitely not last minute for those.​

 

[BoltonChicken]

If you are keeping them inside at an ambiant temp of around 70 degrees you do not need 250 watts. They put out a lot of heat and can be a fire hazard. Inside usage
of a 60 watt bulb is plenty for most chicks, or you can use a 100 watts if you need more heat than the 60 can provide. I kept my 3 week old chicks outside, and a 60 watt
bulb at a height of 1 foot kept them fine at temps down to 45 degrees. The "extra thick" bulbs you mention as sold as appliance bulbs. They can stand a lot of abuse, but
do not put out the heat (or light) of standard bulbs.

 

[off-grid hen]

I also recommend the ecoglow. I raised 16 chicks under mine and they all did great. I unplugged it last week out in the coop, and they are all doing very well. When I had the brooder box in the house, I also supplied a 13 watt CFL bulb in the clamp light for light. I was lights out when the light in the house (and the coop when we moved them) and light outside were the same level, so they could get used to it slowly getting dark. I am off the grid (solar panels and batteries). That one incandescent bulb would have been the most inefficient thing in my house. We just couldn't stomach running a generator for a light bulb. I also live in a very remote home that it would take the fire dept a long time to get to, so I wanted very little fire hazard. It was worth every penny.

 

[andalusn]

I have switched both of my brooders to the EcoGlo and really like it. I think the peeps actually sleep better at night since the daylight/night is natural. It does not get hot even over shavings and its close to them. I can leave it plugged in and grab it from the front and touch the warming area and not get burned its that light. Not having the reg glow is wonderful. I have been thinking of adding a sweeter heater to the outside barn brooder pen to offer a warming area as well since that's a pen for many junior birds before they are mature but not babies anymore either.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
I didn't wait but I have done multiple searches here about which bulb to use and never heard of the ecoglow or any special thick bulbs. Last week I asked about which wattage I should use and no one mentioned it then either or any other types of bulbs either. Too bad. I didn't wait but since I didn't know this ecoglow or thick bulbs existed there isn't much I can do now-our chicks are coming on Friday. Hopefully the 250W bulb I bought will be ok. We ordered our chicks 2 mos ago so definitely not last minute for those.

I use a huge brooder, out in the barn or in the garage, in March. I use a timber across it as a light bar. On it, I use the red 250watt for those super cold nights in the 20s. But when warmer weather comes and/or the chicks grow, I switch to using lower wattage bulbs. My safety favorite is the "flood light" type bulb with the flat face, and super heavy glass. Very difficult to break those.

I am concerned about the thin glassed, red bulbs, sold everywhere, when the chicks start to get jumpy and half crazy at 3-4 weeks of age. I think they could break one easily.

As for being caught off guard, heck, I've been at the feed store had the manager say, "Can you just take these last 10 pullets?" Noticed they were ISA Browns and I scooped them up for free. Upon getting home, I can set up a brooder pretty darn fast. Half bale of straw, fill the chick waterer, plug in the light bar, and dust off the chick feeder.

 

[off-grid hen]

Fred's Hens :

As for being caught off guard, heck, I've been at the feed store had the manager say, "Can you just take these last 10 pullets?" Noticed they were ISA Browns and I scooped them up for free.

It's nice of you to help them tidy up.

 

[Momaha]

I started with a 100 watt infrared bulb and light fixture that I found in the reptile section along with a nice sturdy stand that has adjustable height at Pets Smart. This set up maintained a perfect and safe temp and is practical. It has worked perfectly for me. I will check out the ecoglow in the future just because it looks like a smart design. A little research goes a long way and creative resourcefulness beats expensive seven days a week.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
problem with regular light bulbs if they are in house they are noisy ALL night and some tend to peck....

If I ever have more than my ecoglows can handle I use a red heat lamp iin the house with a battery operated smoke detector to catch any issues it may have

Sorry, the regular bulb will be red. I don't use a bright white light, they will stay up all night.