Heat lamps

[Jamie Hazel]

Hello, I'm getting my first two chicks to handraise. I have a 150 watt infrared lamp and I was just wondering if this would be okay for them? I've been told 250 watt but I just wanted to check if 150 watt would do??
Thanks in advance.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

250 is the industry standard, but they raise hundreds of birds in outdoor sheds. That is often too warm for home use to be quite honest.

So YES, try your 150 watt light. If you are raising them indoors it should be plenty warm. If they stand directly under the light and peep loudly then they are too cold and you can try to lower the lamp a little. If they sprawl out away from the light they are too warm. But allow for temp fluctuations.

I use 150 watt bulbs all the time, and my house is about 60 degrees. So you may need to adjust according to your temperature. But it should be fine. The whole brooder doesn't need to be heated, just the part where they warm up and sleep.

 

[venymae]

I just use a plain old incandescent lightbulb in a cheap flexible neck lamp. Works like a charm. If you are only doing 2 chicks that will be plenty warm for a smaller brooder. Best of luck!

 

[Jamie Hazel]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

250 is the industry standard, but they raise hundreds of birds in outdoor sheds. That is often too warm for home use to be quite honest.

So YES, try your 150 watt light. If you are raising them indoors it should be plenty warm. If they stand directly under the light and peep loudly then they are too cold and you can try to lower the lamp a little. If they sprawl out away from the light they are too warm. But allow for temp fluctuations.

I use 150 watt bulbs all the time, and my house is about 60 degrees. So you may need to adjust according to your temperature. But it should be fine. The whole brooder doesn't need to be heated, just the part where they warm up and sleep.

Would I be okay to just put the lamp at one end of the brooder or does it have to be in the middle??

 

[Jamie Hazel]

I just use a plain old incandescent lightbulb in a cheap flexible neck lamp. Works like a charm. If you are only doing 2 chicks that will be plenty warm for a smaller brooder. Best of luck!

Thank you for that

 

[The Moonshiner]

Get a dimmer switch cord like this.
Then you can adjust how much heat its putting out instead of messing with raising and lowering the whole fixture.

 

[Jamie Hazel]

Get a dimmer switch cord like this.
Then you can adjust how much heat its putting out instead of messing with raising and lowering the whole fixture.
View attachment 1168055

Thank you

 

[The Moonshiner]

Would I be okay to just put the lamp at one end of the brooder or does it have to be in the middle??

One end is better unless its a big brooder. They need a heated spot and a cooler side so they can get out of the heat if they need to.

 

[Dee Dee N Desiree]

Hello, I'm getting my first two chicks to handraise. I have a 150 watt infrared lamp and I was just wondering if this would be okay for them? I've been told 250 watt but I just wanted to check if 150 watt would do??
Thanks in advance.

Hi, I'm pretty new too. I hope you have fun with your 2 chicks. I raised mine indoors for the first 2 months and I think mine are the 250 and it was too hot. What breed of chickens are you getting?

 

[Jamie Hazel]

Hi, I'm pretty new too. I hope you have fun with your 2 chicks. I raised mine indoors for the first 2 months and I think mine are the 250 and it was too hot. What breed of chickens are you getting?

Isa Brown or a Silkie. Mine will also be indoors