[pixie2010]

My red bulbs need replacing on my heat lamps used for brooding chicks, I have been offered "infrared heat bulbs, but white light"  has anyone heard of these and can they be used same as red bulbs? I havent seen one yet, so I can't tell you what make they are. Any comments appreciated.

[Sbom]

We used to use a white one, no difference as far as I could tell. Have since invested in an electric hen type brooder, much more efficient and because the chicks can go underneath and get to experience light and dark it's much more natural way to rear them ( apart from a broody of course) 

[robert waddell]

we use them for the piglets   two when it is Baltic

[Beewyched]

They work the same as the red ones in regards to electricity usage & heat output.  My OH won't use the white ones - something about the chicks can get overstimulated with constant light - not following daytime/nightime patterns. 

[jaykay]

In my view, they sleep better under red light. I think this because I also switch on a white light during the day (it's dark in my house with its 3ft walls) and when I switch it off at night, leaving the red light on, they settle down and sleep.

You can also get ceramic bulbs that just give off heat, no light.

[hughesy]

We use a ceramic dull emitter which just gives off heat and no light. I've had the same one for nearly two years now I bet there aren't many bulbs around that have lasted that long.

[pixie2010]

Thanks everyone, my electrician got back to me today ( he was getting the new bulbs for me as a favour)...overnight he had been busy researching himself on the internet after discovering he had got me the wrong bulbs and phoned me today, all chuffed with himself saying I was to stick with red as white overstimulates the chicks!!  Thanks again.  I am so impressed by how helpful everyone is. x

[jaykay]

That electrician is worth keeping hold of   

[tobytoby]

I used my mothers white heat lamp from her shower room. I think it gave off better heat and easier to control above the chicks as they were either right under it or away from it.

[Big Light]

As stated white light does not let them sleep well, the other reason for red light is to avoid feather pecking damage as blood in a brooder / nursery shed is picked at by all the other chicks till the poor chick is dead or has a gaping wound the red light obviously doesn't show the blood like the white light does and so the situation is hopefully avoided

Better Red than Dead 

[chrismahon]

We use red for the first week then switch to a day and night routine with a ceramic (dull or black) emitter. White is too bright and we only use it on short days to increase daylight.
 
Next hatch we are using an electric hen -much cheaper on the electricity.
 
Most fittings are not designed for 250Watt ceramics because they throw a lot of heat upwards and melt the unit. Annoying, because loads of people sell the bulbs who don't sell the special holders and seem to be unaware of that requirement. You only find out when the bulb fails and you can't get it out of the unit because it has melted and the chicks are freezing!!! We bought 100Watt ceramic bulbs and used the standard holder set lower -two would be safer.