Just make sure you use a bakelite or ceramic socket or it will melt a plastic one.You can get some great heat emitters that screw into a socket just like a bulb, but don't emit any light. They are generally used for reptile habitats; but, they work great for brooders
If the container is small they could easily have gotten overheated.
I let someone chick sit a couple when I was out of town. The heat lamp was too large and the rubbermaid container too small and they fried.
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