Cost-effective heat lamps for chicks

Most people use 40- or 60-watt incandescent light bulbs to brood their poultry.
These bulbs provide enough heat to keep the chicks warm in a brooder, without overheating them. You typically use two bulbs, so the chicks stay warm if the bulb burns out.

You can use two heat lamp bulbs, but do not use a double-socket with heat lamp bulbs. It could melt the socket and start a fire.

As you probably know it’s now illegal to manufacture incandescent light bulbs. The new energy-efficient bulbs don't give off enough heat to keep the chicks warm. Heat bulbs can be expensive ($10 per bulb) and too strong (125-250 watts per bulb).

There are still some incandescent bulbs on the store shelves, so it might be a good idea to stock up while they are still available. This seems to be the most cost-effective short-term solution.

If anyone uses something else please share in the comment section.

--Dale, aka Turkeyman

photo courtesy of Flickr.