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Ok without heat lamp?

post #1 of 25
4/30/12 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
Chicks are 2.5-3 weeks old. (Got them from TSC on the 13th, not sure exact DOB)

Their heat lamp bulb broke today. The glass completely separated from the metal spiral part you twist into the lamp... Paid $20 for the stinkin' thing not even 2 weeks ago!! he.gif

The brooder is in the house, open/wire grid sides. Do you think they'll be fine without a lamp for the time being? I won't be able to get in town to get a new bulb until at least Wednesday.

Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

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Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

Reply

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The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
post #2 of 25
4/30/12 at 6:28pm

of course the will be fine, my chicks went without the heat lamp at 2-3 weeks

"... the avenging arm of God will strike the wicked, and in his mighty power he will punish their pride and presumption. God will employ the powers of hell for the extermination of these impious and heretical persons who desire to overthrow the Church and destroy it's foundation. .... Innumerable legions of demons shall overrun the earth and shall execute the orders of Divine Justice... Nothing...


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"... the avenging arm of God will strike the wicked, and in his mighty power he will punish their pride and presumption. God will employ the powers of hell for the extermination of these impious and heretical persons who desire to overthrow the Church and destroy it's foundation. .... Innumerable legions of demons shall overrun the earth and shall execute the orders of Divine Justice... Nothing...


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post #3 of 25
4/30/12 at 6:31pm

I would keep an eye on them and make sure that they are not acting cold.  If they are, I would use a regular 75 - 100 W light bulb to keep them warm.  I don't know about your house, but mine is kept at 65 and that is too cold for 3 week olds.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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post #4 of 25
4/30/12 at 7:10pm

In a pinch a heating pad under the brooder may help. That's what I use for mine because our house is small and I don't like the lights on at night.

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post #5 of 25
4/30/12 at 7:57pm

Agree with some of whats already been posted. 2 things matter. 1) are they acting like they are cold? you know.. huge dog pile of chicks? 2) how cold is their brooder?? you never said how cold it is now. They will let u know if its too cold, assuming you are looking before they get TOO cold.. know what i mean? This would be an emergency at my house fwiw...

1 buff orp, flock destroyed by neighborhood fox last year. Fox destroyed by SSS. Also have 1 cat, a dog, and a big fish tank. More chickens incoming first week of may 2012, to include 2 barred rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 golden buff and one mystery packing peanut, rumored to be an egg layer.

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1 buff orp, flock destroyed by neighborhood fox last year. Fox destroyed by SSS. Also have 1 cat, a dog, and a big fish tank. More chickens incoming first week of may 2012, to include 2 barred rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 golden buff and one mystery packing peanut, rumored to be an egg layer.

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post #6 of 25
4/30/12 at 8:43pm

I have never had a "heat light" bulb in my brooder. I just use a standard 100 watt household bulb in a heat bell. I put it fairly close to the brooder but make sure the chicks can't reach it. All have been fine, bantums & ducks included. I have chicks that are less than 2 weeks old at this point in brooders in my bedroom. I tried leaving the lamps on for the 1st week at night but got NO SLEEP WHATSOEVER. The last several nights I have turned their lights out & closed my bedroom door and turned on my small electric heater to keep just my room a bit above 70-75 degrees. Mine are doing great & will be more than ready to go out to the coop within a week or so with the temps here staying above 50 or so at night. I've been turning the heater down a bit each night til within another day or 2 it won't be on at all. I only still leave them the brooder lights during the day now because it's rather dark in my room during the day since it's in the basement.

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post #7 of 25
4/30/12 at 8:52pm
Thread Starter 
I had to rebuild their brooder today, so by the time they went back in their cage, it was air temperature. It has wire sides, so it doesn't hold heat as well as their first brooder did (oversized storage bin). We keep it between 65-70 in here usually.

I thought about using a regular bulb, the ones I have in my light box can throw quite a bit of heat. But wouldn't it mess up their day/night cycles with a bright light on them overnight? I did manage to find the old 50w heat bulb, so that is on them right now. The brooder is 28" high, but last I checked it seemed it had warmed up the roosting perch, though floor level still felt like it was ambient temperature.

They have been very noisy this afternoon and evening, but they've always been a bit noisy. They spent most of the evening exploring the new digs and exercising their wings with the added height, though they were all huddled together before I added the small bulb. Right now there is one sleeping on the roost while the other 5 are sleeping together on the floor underneath. (Close, but not on top of one another) I don't have a thermometer in there, so not sure the actual temp.
Edited by gracejr - 4/30/12 at 8:54pm

Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

Reply

Patti - Ringleader to two crazy boys, plus a new princess.

Chicken Math strikes again...  11 hens, 1 rooster, 3 pullets, 17 chicks, and more in the 'bator.

Fur-mama to Dodger, Oliver, and Cici. Foster dog-mama to many!

Reply
post #8 of 25
4/30/12 at 8:57pm

If they are sleeping, iI would say you are good to go!

 

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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post #9 of 25
4/30/12 at 8:57pm

Sounds like they are fine. At 2.5-3 weeks they should be remotely well feathered in anyway so don't need as warm of temps any more

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post #10 of 25
4/30/12 at 8:59pm

Use the normal household light bulb.  They don't care about the light and dark and will just sleep when they are tired.  Its better to do that than chance that they get too cold......and then sick.

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