Type of light to use and how much light

[simplecountryboy]

Is it better to use a white light or a red light in the brooder? Also is it better to leave the light on at all times while the chicks are little?

 

[ranchhand]

Hi,

The light is more for heat than anything anything else, so it does need to be on 24/7. Start the first week at about 95 degrees and reduce by 5 degrees each week. They will move away if too hot, and huddle under the light if too cold.

I prefer a red bulb, because it seems to prevent them pecking each other. You can find lots more info under the Index in the blue bar above.

Nice to have another BYCer!

 

[SummerwindNC]

My Dad came over the other day & started laughing at the chicks under the lightbulbs. He said when he was a kid (back in the 30's-40's) the postman would deliver the everyone's chicks in one day. They were shipped by zip code & were 5 cents each. No one used lights, they simply opened the door to chicken house & dumped them in.
Well I'm not about to see if that works so I use a 75 wt for 10 chicks. They are at about 100 degrees for the first 2 days then I raise the light little by little. I then change it out to a 60 watt. By a month old they are ready for room temperature. Of course they are mad as heck when the bulb goes away but they do just fine.

KAT

 

[Mahonri]

I'm in Phoenix and use a 250 watt bulb.

Last year I used a white light.

This year I'm using a red light. They are growing faster this year... go figure.

 

[simplecountryboy]

Thanks for the input.