heat lamp

[coachwife2004]

So I know you need a heat lamp and you are supposed to decrease the temp gradually. How exactly do you do that? do you change light bulbs or move the light farther away? Sorry to be so basic but I feel inept

 

[congdon476]

Both or either. I used a lower watt bulb when it was closer, upgraded to a higher watt bulb when it moved back, then lowered the bulb wattage again the next week... etc etc.. until it was at the right temps. I don't have a lot of "Hook and move back" space for my lamp so I used different wattage of bulbs to help simulate that effect.

 

[TaLani]

You can just raise the height of the heat lamp higher in the air to move it further away from the chicks.

 

[TXmom]

My husband put a 250 watt red heat lamp on a dimmer switch...it is extremely easy for me to control the temps.

 

[CARS]

I think it depends. When I get chicks early (March/April) I start with a 250w lamp and adjust the height to control the temp. But as it warms up in later April I switch the bulb to a 150w and adjust the height for temp.

I would imagine in Texas you wouldn't need a 250w bulb would ya?

 

[coachwife2004]

i dont think so it will be 60 degrees tomm!!

 

[CARS]

Quote:
That is a great idea.

Has anyone rigged up a thermostat to regulate their lamps in a homemade brooder??

 

[wjallen05]

I started off with a 100 watt bulb the first 1 1/2 weeks, then they got too hot so I moved it up some. Then I figured it was a waste of electricity so I changed the bulb to a 60 watt. I don't even have a light on them anymore (3 weeks old) but they are inside.

 

[tcal]

I figured that they can move in or back away to find their own comfort spot as long as it's warm enough in the warmest place...... am I wrong on this?

 

[TXmom]

That's exactly what they do...they find the spot that's most comfortable for them, that's why you put the heat lamp on one side and let the other side stay cooler. But, if they are all staying far away from the light...then it's too warm and you need to lower the temp.