Is a red 250-watt heat lamp too much for 12 chicks?

[backdoorchicken]

i had ours under a 250watt bulb and i secured it with a wire in case the clamp failed. i went to lowes and got a digital thermometer ($5) to keep the temp in check. by the end of their brooder stay i had the lamp hanging from a ceiling fan and it worked out great.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
This was also my experience with both batches that I brooded. (Mine were also standard or large fowl breeds.) I really believe the recommended temps are too high, except maybe for a few days til they get over shipping stress, if they were shipped. I also feel they are much better off a little too cool than a little too warm.

 

[jvls1942]

The amount of chicks has nothing to do with the wattage..

their comfort is all you are after..

I start all of my chicks off at no more than 80F . I have several fish tanks I use .. 60 watt bulb.. I cover the top with a bath towel and uncover part of it if it gets too hot.

the chicks will let you know how they feel..

after 2 or 3 days they go out to the big coop in the brooder cages..
100w bulbs because it is open wire cages.. I have heat on one end only.
they will regulate where in the cage they are comfortable.. when they no longer sleep under the light it gets turned off..

 

[BWchicken]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't think I'll be using the 250-watt. I'd likely be too worried about overheating and fire hazard with that much wattage. I looked everywhere for the red 125-watt infrared but no luck. Anyone know where I can find one?

The reason I'm not starting them off outside is we are having an extremely hot summer. We'll have to wait and see how the weather is when the chicks arrive, but temps have been 100-106 for most of July. Absolutely stifling heat. I think they'd do better to start off inside under those circumstances.

Again, thanks for the replies and if anyone knows where I can get that red 125-watt infrared, online or otherwise, please let me know. If not, has anyone ever found a red-colored regular light bulb (maybe 60-100 watt)? That would work wouldn't it?

 

[txredneckmedic]

i used a 80 watt party lamp from walmart. Heck...its july in Tx....does your house really get that cold?

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
here in wisc we have Fleet and Farm stores.. You must have similar stores where you are.. I get the regular red flood lights that come in 100 150 and 250watt.
the smaller ones seem to last longer and they put off plenty of heat..

later on I switch to regular light bulbs in the 60W or 40W range.. I have some red ones like that also, but they are old and burn out quickly.. got them at a rummage sale..

 

[rhodiegal]

I worried about the same thing. Normally I use a plain old 100 watt light bulb, but I used a heat lamp for the last batch (10 chicks) thinking it would not be so harshly bright. The red light was a more relaxing light, but you had to keep it higher up than the normal light bulb.

OH - one real bad thing about the infrared heat - our power bill went up $75 that month.