white or red heat lamp

[fiddlebanshee]

I got a metal heat lamp holder from a friend but she only had a 50W bulb with it (they used it for reptiles). So it is not nearly hot enough, it hardly heated the brooder a couple of degrees warmer than the surrounding air in the outdoor coop. So I need a bigger bulb. I'm heading out to TSC tomorrow and was wondering if I should get this white one or this red one .

What are the pros and cons of each? This would be hanging in a shed type coop. Our nighttime temps are in the 50s F right now, during the day it is around 70 - so I need something that can dependably keep the temp at a constant level.

The chicks are arriving next week so I'm testing out what would work best.

Your help would be appreciated.

 

[al6517]

Red works better for very young chicks, keeps the pecking to a minimum and settles them better than a bright white light. I would use a 250 watt bulb and just raise and lower it until you find the right height to where they don't pile as much. Then raise it as they grow and need less heat. An easy way to tell is they will all pile on each other in the center of the light it's to high and low temp. When they move to the perimeter of the lighted area they are fine and the temp is correct, if they move to the far outside areas of the or walls then it's too hot and the temp is too high, that is when they begin to peck at each other and start causing each other problems. Hope that help's.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

The white or the red will provide the same amount of heat, however, the red seems to be preferable for allowing them to be able to sleep and for masking the color of blood if one gets a little injury. Masking the blood is important as they will all go after it, the little carnivores

 

[SteveBaz]

Yay Chicks! :

The white or the red will provide the same amount of heat, however, the red seems to be preferable for allowing them to be able to sleep and for masking the color of blood if one gets a little injury. Masking the blood is important as they will all go after it, the little carnivores

X2 I used the RED​

 

[Eggcessive]

When my chicks started getting too warm with the 250 watt red light (I had raised it already), I tried yellow and white with lower wattages, but they would get a little crazy and aggressive with the non-red lights. I like the red, so I picked up a 60 watt and 25 watt red bulb--they are hard to find and are incandescent and fluorescent, but if you look around the stores you can find them for when you need them. When I put them in the coop at 5 weeks, they still used them just incase they needed the heat, plus it was a good nightlight.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Ok thanks everyone. Red it will be. Maybe I should get one intermediate wattage as well, 125 W so that I have the choice of 250,125, or 50.

I can't wait until they're here! The coop is almost ready, just need to put the finishing touches on the brooder (it sits where the roosts will be later on the poopboard and I only have to put on a lid and a partial front. Here's a picture of what I have so far.

What should I do with the right side? Just cover with hardware cloth or have a solid wall? I was thinking I'd put a removable lid with hardware cloth only on top. I can always throw a blanket over the right side if it gets way too cold.

The brooder is 54" x 32". I'll have 15 chicks.

 

[secuono]

I use only red, it helps them sleep better and helps you sleep too if it's in the house, lol.
I've used a white bulb before, but it really kept the chicks up. Just doesn't seem to work as well as a red light.

Also, check the sticker on that metal holder, you may be limited to what KIND of bulb and the WATTS you can even use with it.

 

[tritty74]

definately red

 

[Oregon Blues]

Red for chicks and blue for ducks.

The red helps to cut on on the chicks pecking on each other and it is much easier on their eyes than white.

 

[Chicks & Chickens]

I have heard before that Red heat lamps are better for them because it provides more heat and such. I bought both Red and White ones for my own and they seemed to like the Red one better. So I would say Red