Official BYC Poll: What Heat Lamp Setup Do You Use?

[BYC Project Manager]

In conditions where the temperature reaches extreme lows, many chicken owners decide to provide supplemental heat - with heat lamps being one of them. Heat lamps are a good way to warm up small birds or injured birds. Young chicks and bantams may need them in extremely cold environments. For some, heat lamps are successful because they heat up objects and not the air. Although many are worried about fire hazards with heat lamps, if the heat lamp is set at the correct height and kept dust-free, there is minimal risk.

In this poll we would like to find out: What Heat Lamp Setup Do You Use?

Place your vote above, and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

Further Reading:

• A Detailed Look At The Question of Supplemental Heat
• Kick the Heat Lamp: Better, Safer, and Healthier Options to Heat Your Brooder!

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[MGG]

I use a MHP that I made most of the time, but if I do use a heat lamp for something I just use the ones that the local TSC carries.
They are Producers Pride red 250 watt heat bulbs.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I use brooder plates, but I do have a heat lamp, red bulb, to use in emergencies.

 

[Kiki]

I don't use a heat lamp.
I use a regular light bulb in a Home Depot clippy lamp.
This one I am using now says 53W.

 

[HKG]

I use heating pad for the chicks usually. I use a red heat lamp for the birds in the winter

 

[muddy75]

I have a variety of set-ups based on age, type of birds, and ambient temperatures. I use an indoor brooder with an 80W ceramic bulb, I have a shed brooder with both heat plate and 250W red bulb capabilities. For winter, I have a heated shed attached to my sub aviary with a thermostat to start electric heater at temps below 50* and I have a cozy coop flat panel heater if I ever have a need for supplemental heat in a coop or hideaway.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use a 125 watt clear heat bulb for brooding. I usually wait until latter in the spring or into early summer to brood so I don't need much heat. I have used the 250 watt red bulbs to brood pheasants. I never provide heat to adult birds.

 

[rjohns39]

I use a brinsea heat plate or sweeter heater

 

[room onthebroom]

I like to use UVB reptile bulbs in the brooder. The wattage depends on the time of year & how old the babies are.

For brand new chicks in early spring I like to use a combo of clear UVB & purple. This gives them a more natural looking light during the day & allows me to take better pictures with no red tint. The purple light allows me to check on them at night if I need to.

*Note: Reptile bulbs are recommended to be used with hoods that have a ceramic base for safety reasons. Please look inside of the hood for wattage recommendations before you buy the hood or the bulbs.

 

[DucksAreBest]

I use a regular desk lamp with a 100 Watt bulb, and once they are 1.5-2 weeks old I switch to a 75 Watt bulb.