White or red heat lamp?

[szieg1]

hi got another question my chicks are all hudlled together away from the heat lamp what does this mean are they cold? also i have a white and a red heat lamp on right now (night) will the brighter white light keep them up? and which is better?

 

[gritsar]

If they are as far away from the heat lamp as possible they could be too warm. Are they also panting and/or holding their wings out away from their bodies? If they look comfortable, just sleeping away from the light then chances are they are fine.
I prefer the red heat bulbs. The chicks seem calmer and it's said to reduce pecking issues.

 

[Spires6]

I have used white and red both with good results. I have been told that the red lights keep them from pecking each other.

 

[robot rooster]

Red Lights are always better, it helps them to sleep better than a white light. Hope it helps, have fun

 

[purecountrychicken]

I found it best to use the white light during the day then red at night. I heard it is better for them.

 

[jossanne]

I have two brooders going right now. One has my red heat lamp, one has a 75 watt lamp on it. The brooder full of chicks with the red heat lamp has always seemed a wee bit more comfortable. I say go with red.

And if they're all piled away from the light, you need to raise it a few inches, until they spread out all over the place. That's a sign of the temperature being right. They need about 95 degrees the first week, then lower the temp about 5 degrees each week thereafter. But I don't use a thermometer - I just watch the chicks' behavior. They'll let you know they're comfortable.

 

[cmom]

I never used a heat lamp in my brooders. I used a plain white 60 watt bulbs in my brooder lamps. I also put wireless digital thermometers with an alarm in my brooders. I also cover my brooders to help keep the heat in. I set the alarm for a specific temp. If a brooder reaches that temp the alarm will sound in the house so I can go check. Once a light bulb did burn out at about 2 am. I also watch the chicks and see how they are behaving, if they are huddled together or not.