heatlamp bulb questions

[MydearWatson]

I'm getting two Silkies on Sunday

I am all prepared except for the lightbulb. I'm going to get a red heat bulb. I went shopping for one today and I saw a few different kinds. Some said they dont shatter when water gets on them? Is this necessary or can I buy any red heat bulb? Also, if they are on day and night, how long do they last?

Thanks so much!

 

[nivtup]

Any will work, although the expensive ones seem to last longer.

I have never had a problem with water getting on them.

If you are only getting 2 chicks, and depending on where the brooder is, a regular 75 - 100 watt bulb will work.


Good luck with them.

 

[paigeandclyde]

yeah i just have 2 chicks and i got them two nights ago and they're about a week old, and i have a lamp with a 95 watt bulb and it works fine for them

 

[loot4louie]

I like the ceramic bulbs from the pet store.

 

[andrew6d9]

I would get a 95 walt bulb so if you ever get any larger cuantities you will have a large enough bulb.

 

[Oregon Blues]

If you buy the exterior grade spotlights, they are very sturdy and designed to tolerate being rained on.

I would not buy a heat lamp. Those are 250 watts. A 100 watt exterior spot is plenty, unless you've got your brooder outside in the snow.

The exterior spots come in all sorts of colors and it will be easy to find a red one. In fact, in the future, if you plan on more chicks, go into the big box stores after Christmas and you can sometimes find red (and green) exterior spots on clearance sale. I've got a whole bag full of them that I paid 50 cents apiece for.

 

[MydearWatson]

Thanks for the replies. So what you are all saying is that with a red heat bulb, I might bake my poor babies! I wanted a colored one so they are not in bright light all the time. I am getting 4 more babies in a few weeks, do you think that a 100 watt will be good for all of them? I am so stressing this wattage/light color thing! It probably isn't even this big of a deal, is it?

 

[TouchO'Lass]

Absolutely understand your question and concern cuz' dem bu'bs ain't cheap! Plus, I thought I'd cook my ladies with a 250W heat lamp but couldn't find red in any less wattage...

All that considered: It depends on the ambient temp around your brooder. I have 15 chicks, and when they were in a 15"x36"x18"h brooder inside the house, a 100W red flood light easily maintained 80 to 85 degrees depending on how close I had the light, and it's normally 65 to 70 degrees inside.

When I had to move them to the outside brooder (4'x4'x2'h) at 4 weeks old, I had to put a 250W heat lamp on 'em because our temps still get into the 30's at night and they aren't entirely feathered out. The 250W heat lamp keeps one end of the brooder at 75 or slightly less, and the ladies are quite comfy, while the 100W red flood didn't do squat... (60* or less in the daytime...)

MORE importantly! Don't use a standard work lamp assembly, because they aren't designed to work 24/7. Be sure the lamp itself has the ceramic socket and is designed to handle the heat and continuous use.

Just my MINIMAL experience! Good Luck!

Whoops! Forgot the water question... My brooder is in a covered run and I have ply against the wire to prevent rain splash. Flood light bulbs are designed to tolerate weather, but unless the bulb is in an outdoor rated fixture, I don't trust water and electricity, EVER!

 

[chickensRcute]

I got one of the heat lamps from the feed store and a 250 red heat bulb last spring. I ran it night and day until those chicks didn't need it and then I ran it night and some days during winter. This year I bought a new bulb and I still haven't needed to use it. So I guess they last a long time!!! As for how hot you are getting your chicks, you can either get an outdoor thermometer and put it at chick level, or just watch them for a while and raise or lower the light accordingly. I have never had any trouble keeping my small amount of chicks at the right temp yet with this method! Have fun!!!

 

[Who922]

I have 25 in a 6 ft round area in a closed in stall. I am using the 250 watt red heat lamp. They get under it when they need to get warm and hae enough room to get away when they want. i don't know if that's practical for everyone, but it has worked for the 5 days I have had mine and we had a couple of nights in the 30's.