Posted by Tammy on November 3, 2010 at 12:36am in Goats 101
Has anybody heard that when using a heating lamp, you should use infered lightbulbs or the red lightbulbs? Someone said today that I should not use white heating lamp bulbs. Because it hurts the kids eyes. We currently are using white heating lamp bulbs 125 watt. Any advice?
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k, I would be afraid to put a lamp that close to anything. The 8 x 8 shed I had them in last winter had exposed 2x4's in the ceiling so I hung the lamp from one of them chained to a u-nail.
I left it on at night just because of the dampness and the shed is nearer the dark field which is pretty creepy at night when you are walking out there alone - not to mention that's where the booger bears live. ish!
The barn is 2 story made of old oak boards with spaces in between - so not much heat going on in there - the shed is warmer by far.
You can use the 250 watt or the smaller one (125?). I have used both sizes, and in Illinois, the smaller one isn't really worth anything. If it's cold enough to need a heat lamp, I need the 250 watt to actually make a difference.
My infrared light bulb is now on the ceiling of my milking parlor, so it's not very easy to get to it. I think the box said it was infrared, and I just didn't realize it was going to be so much stronger than a regular heat lamp. If you buy a bulb at Tractor Supply or someplace like that, the box says brooder lamp or heat lamp or something like that. Like I said, I got the infrared at Lowe's. I think they're supposed to be for heating bathrooms, so they're going to be eight feet from the floor. As soon as I turned on the infrared, I realized something was different because it felt so hot. It felt like it was going to burn me when I had my hand under it a foot away. A regular heat lamp doesn't feel THAT hot. I normally have the heat lamps hanging about three feet from the floor (straw), and it's never been a problem. I sit under the heat lamps when I'm out there with goats in labor, and it feels nice and toasty. The hair on poor Lizzie's back was burned brown over her rump because she stood under the infrared light.
Melissa Johnson said:
Deborah what should the wattage be? I do have a red light for "heat" lamps but I dont know if it is infrared - I suppose it would say on the bulb - so back to the original question - what wattage should the bulb be? My biggest use is for the dampness - ahhhh, Oregon, if it isnt raining it tends to drip :)
Tammy, if you're ever in Illinois, you're welcome to stop in for a visit!
Tammy said:
Thank you for the information. My husband and I were leaning that way. However, you always have that outside advice and he had larger breed goats. There is always so much information to read and my brain gets fried. You always give really good advice. I would love to come and see your farm. Do you ever allow tours? We live in Richmond, KY, but thought about taking a road trip with our two children. They are 11 and 15, so it makes it easier to travel once in a while.
Deborah what should the wattage be? I do have a red light for "heat" lamps but I dont know if it is infrared - I suppose it would say on the bulb - so back to the original question - what wattage should the bulb be? My biggest use is for the dampness - ahhhh, Oregon, if it isnt raining it tends to drip :)
Tammy said:
Thank you for the information. My husband and I were leaning that way. However, you always have that outside advice and he had larger breed goats. There is always so much information to read and my brain gets fried. You always give really good advice. I would love to come and see your farm. Do you ever allow tours? We live in Richmond, KY, but thought about taking a road trip with our two children. They are 11 and 15, so it makes it easier to travel once in a while.
Thanks,
Tammy
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Do NOT get infrared. I accidentally bought that one time, and it singed the hair on a doe's back! It gets MUCH hotter than a regular bulb of the same watts. I wouldn't worry about white versus red in chicks or goats. We've used both in the past eight years and haven't seen a difference in anything. We've never had cannibalistic chicks or turkeys or ducks or geese. Our goats don't seem to have any vision problems. I've always assumed that the white light might mess with their circadian rhythms, but I don't know that anyone has ever researched anything with white vs. red lights. If you get a red light, just make sure it's a regular heat lamp, not an infrared. They sell them at TSC and probably most other farm stores. I got the infrared at Lowe's, because I just happened to be there when I needed another heat lamp. I have no doubt an infrared light could catch straw on fire if it was close enough. And always make sure that it is securely fastened, so it can't accidentally fall or get knocked down. Heat lamps are the #1 cause of barn fires, and we would have had one here if my daughter hadn't walked into the barn when she did. We just got lucky. Now I only use heat lamps with kids for a few days after they're born.
Thank you for the information. My husband and I were leaning that way. However, you always have that outside advice and he had larger breed goats. There is always so much information to read and my brain gets fried. You always give really good advice. I would love to come and see your farm. Do you ever allow tours? We live in Richmond, KY, but thought about taking a road trip with our two children. They are 11 and 15, so it makes it easier to travel once in a while.
Thanks,
Tammy
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Do NOT get infrared. I accidentally bought that one time, and it singed the hair on a doe's back! It gets MUCH hotter than a regular bulb of the same watts. I wouldn't worry about white versus red in chicks or goats. We've used both in the past eight years and haven't seen a difference in anything. We've never had cannibalistic chicks or turkeys or ducks or geese. Our goats don't seem to have any vision problems. I've always assumed that the white light might mess with their circadian rhythms, but I don't know that anyone has ever researched anything with white vs. red lights. If you get a red light, just make sure it's a regular heat lamp, not an infrared. They sell them at TSC and probably most other farm stores. I got the infrared at Lowe's, because I just happened to be there when I needed another heat lamp. I have no doubt an infrared light could catch straw on fire if it was close enough. And always make sure that it is securely fastened, so it can't accidentally fall or get knocked down. Heat lamps are the #1 cause of barn fires, and we would have had one here if my daughter hadn't walked into the barn when she did. We just got lucky. Now I only use heat lamps with kids for a few days after they're born.
Do NOT get infrared. I accidentally bought that one time, and it singed the hair on a doe's back! It gets MUCH hotter than a regular bulb of the same watts. I wouldn't worry about white versus red in chicks or goats. We've used both in the past eight years and haven't seen a difference in anything. We've never had cannibalistic chicks or turkeys or ducks or geese. Our goats don't seem to have any vision problems. I've always assumed that the white light might mess with their circadian rhythms, but I don't know that anyone has ever researched anything with white vs. red lights. If you get a red light, just make sure it's a regular heat lamp, not an infrared. They sell them at TSC and probably most other farm stores. I got the infrared at Lowe's, because I just happened to be there when I needed another heat lamp. I have no doubt an infrared light could catch straw on fire if it was close enough. And always make sure that it is securely fastened, so it can't accidentally fall or get knocked down. Heat lamps are the #1 cause of barn fires, and we would have had one here if my daughter hadn't walked into the barn when she did. We just got lucky. Now I only use heat lamps with kids for a few days after they're born.
I do know they say dont use them for chicks cause it makes them peck each other or something like that - the bright light disturbs them. But the red lights are certainly more "soothing" to me! The white are so bright! I had a red light for my does last winter and it seemed much more condusive (dont know if I spelled that right) for sleeping for sure.
Replies
I left it on at night just because of the dampness and the shed is nearer the dark field which is pretty creepy at night when you are walking out there alone - not to mention that's where the booger bears live. ish!
The barn is 2 story made of old oak boards with spaces in between - so not much heat going on in there - the shed is warmer by far.
My infrared light bulb is now on the ceiling of my milking parlor, so it's not very easy to get to it. I think the box said it was infrared, and I just didn't realize it was going to be so much stronger than a regular heat lamp. If you buy a bulb at Tractor Supply or someplace like that, the box says brooder lamp or heat lamp or something like that. Like I said, I got the infrared at Lowe's. I think they're supposed to be for heating bathrooms, so they're going to be eight feet from the floor. As soon as I turned on the infrared, I realized something was different because it felt so hot. It felt like it was going to burn me when I had my hand under it a foot away. A regular heat lamp doesn't feel THAT hot. I normally have the heat lamps hanging about three feet from the floor (straw), and it's never been a problem. I sit under the heat lamps when I'm out there with goats in labor, and it feels nice and toasty. The hair on poor Lizzie's back was burned brown over her rump because she stood under the infrared light.
Melissa Johnson said:
Tammy said:
Tammy said:
Thanks,
Tammy
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said: