Heat Lamp question!

[Morgan7782]

What wattage heat lamp/light should I aim for? Will be getting day old or few day old from local feed store. Any advice = good

Also, red or white? Or does it matter? What do you guys use?

 

[luckychickmom]

I started with a 150 W bulb and discovered that it got too hot and was hard to regulate. I then got a 100 W bulb, which has been just about perfect. As my chicks are getting a little older (3-4 wks), I have moved to a 75 W bulb. All of my bulbs have been red, which was the most commonly recommended in order to not disturb the chicks at nighttime. For the lower wattage bulbs, I went to the reptile section of a local pet store. Something else that I discovered was handy are those cooling racks used for baking cakes, etc. They are metal and stackable, so you can regulate the height of the heat lamp in order to reach the right temp. Just make sure that you have a metal grate across the top of the brooder (we had a bad experience with one of the clamp-on brooder lamps!)

 

[felidaet]

It depends upon a number of variables such as size of brooder, type of material brooder is made from (wood, metal, plastic, cardboard, etc), Where the brooder is located (house, insulated garage, uninsulated garage, barn, etc.)

A metal brooder in my insulated garage last year required (2) 250 watt heat lamps for the first three weeks. I replaced it with a large wood brooder this year and I am going to get by with (1) 250 watt heat lamp. Initially it will be heating a 3' x 3' area. After about two weeks I will remove the dividing wall and it will become 3' x 8'. I tested both configurations last weekend. The 3' x 3' area heated nicely to 96 degrees. The 3' x 8' area heated to 85 degrees. (Temperatures measured near the floor under the heat lamps).

I am using a red heat lamp.

 

[bluegoose]

Putting A Dimmer Switch On Your Heat Lamp Will Let You Raise Or Lower The Temperature .It Has Worked Great For Me.

 

[NattiFan]

I'm using 2 two 250 watt red bulbs.......it's working for me.....I have them both hanging, and am using a simple pully system to raise or lower them as needed

 

[juliette2009]

I'm using 2-3 red heat lamps, 250 watts each. I use this stand, which is adjustable...http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6192, and I also use this light fixture, which is cool to the touch, so I don't have to worry about the babies flying into it and burning themselves...http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=18266&cat_id=132...I also put a dimmer switch on it, so the temperature can be easily regulated without having to raise or lower the entire unit. This setup works very well for me, I no longer get up during the night to check on the temperature, and it is so easy to use! It costs a little initially, but once you have it, you'll be very happy!

 

[Morgan7782]

Now since I will only have two to three chicks (MAX) would I need two heat lights? Or just one? I have been reading more that helps me feel a little better, appearently the chicks will move to and from the light depending on what they need.

 

[juliette2009]

Quote:
You will only need one. I use 3 when I have a large number of chicks (36)...My brooder consists of 2 kiddie pools put together, so I need extra lights for all that area/chicks. I currently have 14 chicks and am using 2 lights.

 

[Morgan7782]

Thanks for the info! I will definately look at getting a dimmer. For the first two weeks they will be in my bedroom in a secure, and clean, glass.. tank? Or aquariam? Not sure what it's called. Then they will be moved to a storage tub with hardwire cloth over the top. Do I need to be concerned about the wire getting hot from the heat lamp and hurting the chicks? What sort of precautions are there? And one more question, sorry lol. Is it better to HANG the heat lamp? Or clamp it to the storage bin? (Will be rubbermaid)

 

[luckychickmom]

Do NOT clamp your light to your Rubbermaid storage bin! This is what can happen! This was the result of a 45 gallon Rubbermaid container with a clamp-on brooder light. The clamp is NOT reliable. PLEASE use a grate! We had one chick out of 12 survive, and my house has been turned upside down for the last month. Amazing what smoke damage can do!

This is my current set-up (with "Lucky" and her new sisters!) I bought a $37 HEAVY rubber trough at the Co-Op and have it placed inside my clawfoot tub (not highly flammable!) I found that a 250 W bulb in the close proximity of the chicks was just way too hot. It took only a few minutes for the temp to rise to 120 degrees! I did purchase an in-line dimmer, and found it useful, but still had to lower the wattage of the bulb (see previous post). With only a few chicks in a confined area, I would be very cautious with higher wattage bulbs! I'm certainly no expert, but have learned a lot already (the hard way!)