Heat lights...neccessary ?

[ebonykawai]

Absolutely, the ceramic screw fixture is a must. I love my ceramic 'bulbs'. Mine are 150 watt and seem to be perfect for a large rubbermaid type brooder. I was going to go with the 250 watt but I really do think it's overkill. However, my brooder room is at 70 degrees so if yours is cooler, a 250 would be helpful.

I've always hated to see light on living things 24 hours a day. It's so unnatural to me. At the zoos, it drives me crazy. I have a good friend who keeps reptiles, including the most awesome tortoise you have ever seen in your life!! I learned about heating from him, then did a search on these forums and saw that people were using ceramic for chicks, too. I was so relieved and went on ebay and lucked out and got three such bulbs. I would not do it any other way. The peeps just seem so calm and happy.

Edited to add:

This is the one I have

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Zoo-Med...e3eTax4KaN0Le34Pa38Ta38Lc390?sc=2&category=13

but they are wayyyyy cheaper on Ebay. Do a search for "ceramic reptile" and you'll find them. I got mine for $12 each plus shipping. I know they are more expensive than the red 250 watt bulbs, but they are just excellent to use. I highly recommend them.

Here they are for $14 http://cgi.ebay.com/Repticare-Ceramic-Heat-Emitters-150W-For-Reptiles-White_W0QQitemZ120238136875QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1285QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

And a bunch more, again on ebay: http://search.ebay.com/ceramic-emitter_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQfromZR40QQpqryZcermicQ20emitter

 

[JimnJanet]

Quote:
You are very welcome

 

[ibpboo]

JimnJanet, My nickname is Boo, and my dad would call me pBoo, so my name is I be pboo. I noticed you have a rottie named Boo

 

[atxchx]

I just got a dozen chicks yesterday morning and was wondering the same thing. I have them in a rubbermaid brooder with a simple reflector and 100-watt light bulb. They seem to be very restless at night and don't know when to go to bed. I tried draping some red fabric between the light and the brooder floor and also making a little house for them out of a shoe box, but both don't seem to work very well. I've had reptiles too in the past so I was wondering if anyone else has used 'alternative' methods of heating at night. Where do you get the ceremic housing for the heating element? Thanks so much for the ebay tip as well!

 

[ebonykawai]

I got my housing from Lowes. They sell a variety of reflector housings and you just need to look at them. The plastic ones are generally brown or black. The ceramic ones are white or cream and you can feel that they are rough. If you tap them, you can tell they are not plastic. I'm sure you can find them at most hardware places. They are necessary for the 250 watt bulbs, which most places also sell, so they kind of go together.

Here is the housing at Lowes:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=203219-1373-FL-302PDQ

And at Ace Hardware:

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=30714

I notice it's technically called a porcelain socket, so that's what you'd want to ask for.

 

[LynneP]

Brooder lights are inexpensive ($20 range) and are grounded and have a guard...well worth it. The infrared bulbs are about $6-$8 and are designed to fit the brooder lamps, and the red light may calm your chicks if they are agressive in white light. The one in this pic is 250W and will be used in a barn coop; then we'll substitute a 175W when the chicks get older. We can also raise the light using a clasp on a chain, and we can vent more air by sliding the panel in the brooder back. There's a styrofoam sheet over wire on the top that can be drawn back for more air or closed down. Also, be sure you have a thermometer in there...

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

If anyone plans to keep chicks on a regular basis or thinks they will need additional heat in the coop in the cold months, consider the ceramic heating elements talked about here. I have one that I have had for over 17 years and used off and on during that time frame. These things NEVER seem to go bad! Well worth the investment IMO.

JimnJanet- off topic, but I too raised reptiles for a number of years, those left over heating elements are coming in handy as is my knowledge on how to breed crickets and mealworms!

 

[cluckychick]

what temp. should it be for the babies and how close should the lamp be to the brooder box. Just using a plastic tub inside?

 

[ebonykawai]

95 the first week, then lowered by 5 degrees each week after that. But watch the babies and see if they are comfortable. If they huddle under the light, they are too cold. If they spread out evenly, they are just right. If they stay as far away from the light as possible, they are too hot.

 

[JimnJanet]

Quote:
I sure do..Boo, meet Boo,aka knucklehead lol