how long do we need the heat lamp?

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The "rule of thumb" Is, start at 95 deg, drop 5 deg a week till your at outside temp or there feathered or 6 weeks old. I like to cool them quicker than that thou. Say buy 2 weeks old there usually around 80 deg or so. I start with a 60 watt bulb, and end up with a 25 watt party light. Just keep a eye on them and make sure they dont huddle and smother the bottom ones. This time of year, it aint such a big deal... but in cooler times, they need to be feathered good before you shut the heat off. Check under there wing, thats the last spot to get feathered out... Bill

I have been doing what Bill does, since it is so hot. The room I have them in is like a brooder itself this time of year, so I get what you (original poster) are inquiring..Are they really needing all of this extra heat this time of year????? So I do go with just as Bill outlined. Now if it were winter, that light would be more intense and on em longer.

Yes to the see thru divider, but most put them in with others when they are the SAME SIZE as the others. Then you separate out who is being nasty to who. I just had my first cases of "bald back" in a pen of 8. I removed the pecked girls and gave them their own suite. Everybody happy now.

By the way. I really like the print on your shirt on the pic. Nice shirt.

Tonya

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I don't see what's blasted out of the water Joe. They don't huddle at 99, they were dropped in a 100 deg brooder at less than 1hr old and thrived. If it's 99 degs during the day, a likely low is gonna be 75 that night. They better be acclimated to the 75degs or there gonna huddle and smother the bottom bird!!! Bill

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I brood down based on chick response, rather than exact temp. The logistics I use is a 100 watt bulb linked to a damper/dimmer switch, so I don't need to move anything Physically higher or lower. Just adjust the dimmer up or down based on heat requirements.

good idea with dimmer switch. like it.

my garage is ~90 during the day, the chicks stay away from under the light, spread out, but nearer to it at night. I been trying to be pretty judicious with birds per brooder, especially these bobs, once they look crowded.
glad the longest day of the year is past...

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I don't see what's blasted out of the water Joe. They don't huddle at 99, they were dropped in a 100 deg brooder at less than 1hr old and thrived. If it's 99 degs during the day, a likely low is gonna be 75 that night. They better be acclimated to the 75degs or there gonna huddle and smother the bottom bird!!! Bill

Sorry Bill, I didn't explain that right. With coturnix, if I brood down to basement temp 75deg. and wait for them to fully feather at around 4-5 weeks. They are usually crowing and laying eggs. Then when I put them outside and it's 99-100 during the day, it will kick them into a molt, which means no eggs for a week or two. Yes, I over-brood my birds sometimes.

Quote:
I brood down based on chick response, rather than exact temp. The logistics I use is a 100 watt bulb linked to a damper/dimmer switch, so I don't need to move anything Physically higher or lower. Just adjust the dimmer up or down based on heat requirements.

good idea with dimmer switch. like it.

my garage is ~90 during the day, the chicks stay away from under the light, spread out, but nearer to it at night. I been trying to be pretty judicious with birds per brooder, especially these bobs, once they look crowded.
glad the longest day of the year is past...

I do love my dimmer switches. They are like $5 at the home creep o. I can just dial them up or down to change the temp, rather than physically moving a light, that is usually very hot.
In the long run, I guess it saves energy too! Rather than having a 100watt bulb burning twice the distance away to get 50watts of heat...You just dim the bulb down to 50 watts.

Bobs are a pain to brood compared to coturnix, but well worth it if you want to raise bobs. They need more precise brooder setups. Coturnix are pretty brooder friendly, and you can fudge things, with little effect.

The dimmer switch would make it alot easier around here. And a great idea. I have thought about it everytime I walk thru that dept of a store. Just never got around to grab'n a hand full of them. So for now, procrastination has me changing light bulbs .... Once they get out to the shop, I set up a thermo that controls a Power strip. Got the lights hanging above cages and the all kick on and off as needed. Works good once they get out there. Bill