Type of bulbs for heatlamp? (blue uv red etc...)

[CaptainQuackerz]

I need help deciding what type of bulbs to get for brooding ducklings. I've read in Storey's Guide To Raising Ducks that blue heat lamp bulbs are easier on the ducklings eyes. I have also heard however that too much UV from blue bulbs can cause serious problems in ducks, but I've also read too little is just as bad. Should I get blue bulbs, red bulbs, or something else maybe? And can someone please link me to a web page where I can order the bulbs online?


Oh, and I would also like to know what type to use indoors for adults.







Thank you, and happy New Years!

 

[Amiga]

I used ceramic bulbs - no light, with one full spectrum bulb for daytime.

 

[tdd2]

Ceramic here too - much pricier at first, but unlikely to get broken very easily and gives off no light to stress the littles, just heat. Be sure to only use a ceramic/high temp light socket with any heat lamp, btw.

I got mine on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002AQCQO

I've had the one bulb for a year now, used it with 2 separate sets of littles, and now have it out in the duck barn plugged into a 20° thermocube to take the edge off on really cold days. (hanging 3' up away from everything, hanging by a 3' stainless chain with a full metal reflector and metal mesh grill - to curb any potential fire concerns this might arouse).

I'll likely not go back to the typical red heat lamps again.

Cheers'

Dan

 

[CaptainQuackerz]

I will be brooding the ducklings in a large plastic bin, probably around 4-5 of them. I checked the Menards store in town and I found this clamp - would it be safe to use with the bulbs you mentioned?
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor-lights/work-lights/8-1-2-deluxe-clamp-light/p-1860961-c-7914.htm

Since I will be brooding a small number of birds at a time, I think a lower wattage ceramic bulb would be better. Does "Zoo Med" make any lower wattage bulbs that would be enough for 4-5 ducklings?


The store also has dimmer switches for sale. Is it safe to use a dimmer switch with those ceramic bulbs?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will be brooding the ducklings in a large plastic bin, probably around 4-5 of them. I checked the Menards store in town and I found this clamp - would it be safe to use with the bulbs you mentioned?
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor-lights/work-lights/8-1-2-deluxe-clamp-light/p-1860961-c-7914.htm

Since I will be brooding a small number of birds at a time, I think a lower wattage ceramic bulb would be better. Does "Zoo Med" make any lower wattage bulbs that would be enough for 4-5 ducklings?


The store also has dimmer switches for sale. Is it safe to use a dimmer switch with those ceramic bulbs?

I got these heat lamps from Premier 1 didn't want to scrimp on safety they cost more but really are nice lamps. also just ordered the ceramic bulbs from Amazon last night, not expecting any new ducklings or chicks but always better to have than not. Actually using the heat lamp on a sick hen right now. http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=18266&cat_id=173

 

[tdd2]

I will be brooding the ducklings in a large plastic bin, probably around 4-5 of them. I checked the Menards store in town and I found this clamp - would it be safe to use with the bulbs you mentioned?
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoor-lights/work-lights/8-1-2-deluxe-clamp-light/p-1860961-c-7914.htm

Since I will be brooding a small number of birds at a time, I think a lower wattage ceramic bulb would be better. Does "Zoo Med" make any lower wattage bulbs that would be enough for 4-5 ducklings?


The store also has dimmer switches for sale. Is it safe to use a dimmer switch with those ceramic bulbs?

CaptainQuakerz,

It looks (in the photo on the Menards site page you linked above), that this particular lamp housing has a plastic socket - I definitely would NOT recommend using it.

Heat lamps create a lot of just that - heat. A plastic socket housing can easily overheat and create a fire/electrical hazard (I am a retired firefighter, I've seen overheated lamp sockets cause homes to burn down over the years). This lamp housing is designed for regular light bulbs, and personally I would not use it for that either for any longer than 1/2 - 1 hour at a time.

If Menards is the store you have access to, this lamp on their site is what you want:

It is specifically designed for use with heat lamp bulbs, and as such has a ceramic socket assembly. I realize it is much more costly, but there is a reason for that price difference.

Zoo Med does also make a 60 watt and a 100 watt heat emitter. The size of your brooding bin and the ambient temperature of the room where the brooder is located (dinning room/living room versus garage/basement) will ultimately dictate the lamp wattage.

As an example, I used the bottom half of an extra large plastic dog crate for brooding my last 3 Welsh Harlequin ducklings. It was kept in our family room (68° typically), and I used a 150 watt emitter, I just kept it a bit higher than I might have a 100 watt emitter.

No matter which lamp type/wattage you get, be sure to keep the lamp well above the bedding/chicks, and at only one end of the tub, so they can get away from the heat if needed/desired.

As for a dimmer - technically you could use one in the circuit, Zoo Med states that you can use a rheostat or thermostat with their heat emitters. As with the socket assembly, be sure the dimmer module is rated for the at least the same or more (preferred) wattage than the bulb output (i.e.: min 200w capacity dimmer for a 150w bulb).

Hope that helps!

Dan

 

[CaptainQuackerz]

CaptainQuakerz,

It looks (in the photo on the Menards site page you linked above), that this particular lamp housing has a plastic socket - I definitely would NOT recommend using it.

Heat lamps create a lot of just that - heat. A plastic socket housing can easily overheat and create a fire/electrical hazard (I am a retired firefighter, I've seen overheated lamp sockets cause homes to burn down over the years). This lamp housing is designed for regular light bulbs, and personally I would not use it for that either for any longer than 1/2 - 1 hour at a time.

If Menards is the store you have access to, this lamp on their site is what you want:

It is specifically designed for use with heat lamp bulbs, and as such has a ceramic socket assembly. I realize it is much more costly, but there is a reason for that price difference.

Zoo Med does also make a 60 watt and a 100 watt heat emitter. The size of your brooding bin and the ambient temperature of the room where the brooder is located (dinning room/living room versus garage/basement) will ultimately dictate the lamp wattage.

As an example, I used the bottom half of an extra large plastic dog crate for brooding my last 3 Welsh Harlequin ducklings. It was kept in our family room (68° typically), and I used a 150 watt emitter, I just kept it a bit higher than I might have a 100 watt emitter.

No matter which lamp type/wattage you get, be sure to keep the lamp well above the bedding/chicks, and at only one end of the tub, so they can get away from the heat if needed/desired.

As for a dimmer - technically you could use one in the circuit, Zoo Med states that you can use a rheostat or thermostat with their heat emitters. As with the socket assembly, be sure the dimmer module is rated for the at least the same or more (preferred) wattage than the bulb output (i.e.: min 200w capacity dimmer for a 150w bulb).

Hope that helps!

Dan

I did some more snooping around, and I found that another store in town called Fleet Farm sells clamps. They carry 4 separate clamps, all with the word 'Brooder' in their names, and 2 of them are "Woods" brand like the one you mentioned. They're all cheap and I'm not sure what the difference is between them all. Maybe you can weigh in on this too please?
http://www.fleetfarm.com/search/?q=brooder
As for the clamp I mentioned in my other post, it is actually metal and not plastic. But, I think I can still use it for the full spectrum bulb rather than the heat bulb. Or maybe I can just get another floor lamp for that.

I found this dimmer switch at menards. It says it supports up to 300 watts. I've never used one of these beore so I want to be abosolutely certain it is indeed safe to use with a ceramic heat bulb.
http://www.menards.com/main/electri...ck-tabletop-slide-dimmer/p-1990254-c-6321.htm

I will be keeping the brooder inside a bedroom where the temperature is around 68-72°F degrees. The room is rather drafty which is partly why I decided to use a fairly large plastic bin over a dog carrier. It doesn't have nearly as much room but there's no holes in the side. I will be keeping the top off though, rather than cutting a big rectangular hole in it and covering it with hardware cloth. There are no other animals in here so there's no danger of them being attacked.

I got these heat lamps from Premier 1 didn't want to scrimp on safety they cost more but really are nice lamps. also just ordered the ceramic bulbs from Amazon last night, not expecting any new ducklings or chicks but always better to have than not. Actually using the heat lamp on a sick hen right now. http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=18266&cat_id=173

That does look like a very nice lamp! Does it come with the stand or is that sold separately? I may actually get this one instead of the ones I mentioned above.

I hope your hen gets better!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I did some more snooping around, and I found that another store in town called Fleet Farm sells clamps. They carry 4 separate clamps, all with the word 'Brooder' in their names, and 2 of them are "Woods" brand like the one you mentioned. They're all cheap and I'm not sure what the difference is between them all. Maybe you can weigh in on this too please?
http://www.fleetfarm.com/search/?q=brooder
As for the clamp I mentioned in my other post, it is actually metal and not plastic. But, I think I can still use it for the full spectrum bulb rather than the heat bulb. Or maybe I can just get another floor lamp for that.

I found this dimmer switch at menards. It says it supports up to 300 watts. I've never used one of these beore so I want to be abosolutely certain it is indeed safe to use with a ceramic heat bulb.
http://www.menards.com/main/electri...ck-tabletop-slide-dimmer/p-1990254-c-6321.htm

I will be keeping the brooder inside a bedroom where the temperature is around 68-72°F degrees. The room is rather drafty which is partly why I decided to use a fairly large plastic bin over a dog carrier. It doesn't have nearly as much room but there's no holes in the side. I will be keeping the top off though, rather than cutting a big rectangular hole in it and covering it with hardware cloth. There are no other animals in here so there's no danger of them being attacked.



That does look like a very nice lamp! Does it come with the stand or is that sold separately? I may actually get this one instead of the ones I mentioned above.

I hope your hen gets better!

The stand is separate but I have mine hanging by wire secured to a large cup hook. If you decide to go with a clamp type be sure to make it even securer by tie wrapping it to what ever you clamp it too or taping it to keep it from accidentally coming loose and falling. Thank you about my hen.

 

[tdd2]

I did some more snooping around, and I found that another store in town called Fleet Farm sells clamps. They carry 4 separate clamps, all with the word 'Brooder' in their names, and 2 of them are "Woods" brand like the one you mentioned. They're all cheap and I'm not sure what the difference is between them all. Maybe you can weigh in on this too please?
http://www.fleetfarm.com/search/?q=brooder
As for the clamp I mentioned in my other post, it is actually metal and not plastic. But, I think I can still use it for the full spectrum bulb rather than the heat bulb. Or maybe I can just get another floor lamp for that.

I found this dimmer switch at menards. It says it supports up to 300 watts. I've never used one of these beore so I want to be abosolutely certain it is indeed safe to use with a ceramic heat bulb.
http://www.menards.com/main/electri...ck-tabletop-slide-dimmer/p-1990254-c-6321.htm

I will be keeping the brooder inside a bedroom where the temperature is around 68-72°F degrees. The room is rather drafty which is partly why I decided to use a fairly large plastic bin over a dog carrier. It doesn't have nearly as much room but there's no holes in the side. I will be keeping the top off though, rather than cutting a big rectangular hole in it and covering it with hardware cloth. There are no other animals in here so there's no danger of them being attacked.



That does look like a very nice lamp! Does it come with the stand or is that sold separately? I may actually get this one instead of the ones I mentioned above.

I hope your hen gets better!

CaptainQuackerz,

Of the four lamps linked from Farm Fleet, I'd go with either of the middle two - only because they 'specify' ceramic/porcelain sockets (though the other two look to have them as well in the photos). If you go to the store, and see that the two from Woods also have ceramic/porcelain sockets - the choice is yours

The clamp isn't the concern with heat lamps, it is the actual bulb socket material that is important.

As for the dimmer linked form Menards, it looks like it would do the job, but honestly, I think you'll find just raising the lamp higher as the littles get bigger will work. (I'm big on "less complicated")

As Miss Lydia recommended above, make sure to use extra wire tied from the reflector housing of the light to a solid anchor point on the tub or lamp stand if you go that route. Those spring tension clamps are not too dependable, especially if bumped/etc, and a second safety line to support the light assembly just in case is good planning.

I know some of this sounds like overkill - but a little extra caution now could go a long way later in the case of a mishap.

Example of my brooder using the dog crate bottom - littles 5 days old - note the heat lamp is mounted up high, and only over one end of the bin:




Your brooder set up sounds great overall! And with a smaller tub, having it inside, and with 4-5 ducklings - a 60 or 100 watt emitter would be more than adequate.

Also - just a quick 'keep in mind' note . . 4-5 ducklings will likely outgrow the plastic bin brooder within 2-3 weeks. I actually had to tie-wrap the open end of the top half of that large dog crate to the open end of the bottom half after the first week - effectively doubling it's size. They grow faster than weeds - Plan ahead!!

My WH littles at 3 days old:



Same 3 littles, 12 days later (I had to move them out to the duck barn, they had outgrown the dog crate)






Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions - that's one of the big reasons we are here

Cheers'

Dan

 

[CaptainQuackerz]

Thanks for the advice so far, I really appreciate it!

I'm considering buying this one, or maybe the one Miss Lydia suggested --
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/designers-edge-aluminum-shade-brooder-light/0000000073267

This one has a porcelain socket and it supports up to 300w. However, it is pretty wide. If I were to place it inside the bin at the very top, there would be about 2" clearance on the sides. Even though I'd be using a 60 watt bulb, this makes me nervous. I'm having trouble finding a brooder lamp that is under 10 1/2" wide. I haven't found any larger bins here in town, though if I can find larger ones on the internet, I'd consider buying some just to be on the safe side.


@Miss Lydia - What are the dimensions of the lamp you're using? I haven't found this on the web page you posted.