heat lamp question

[MadAussieInUSA]

So I'm expecting my chicks early next week, I've been testing the heat lamp, I have a 250watt red heat bulb (made by GE) and one of them UFO's.. I mean large silver heat lamp doodads that take these big 250watt bulbs...

I know chicks need 90F to start off with, so I suspended the lamp and put a thermometer under it... it rose from 73F to.. 75F.. mm

I lowered it till it was about 1+1/2 feet from the floor where the thermo was.. it rose to 80F..

How high above the chicks does the lamp need to be? I'm pretty sure my reflector is rated to take a MAX 300watt bulb so I'm good there.

I just didn't expect to have to put the lamp so close..

 

[pkeeler]

It takes a while for the lamp to get hot. I would check the temp after it has been on for 20 minutes, at least. Plus, if the bedding is cold and you place the thermometer on there, it will register a lower temperature. The whole brooder will warm up given time.

This is why it is recommended you turn your brooder heat source on an hour before chicks arrive.