250 watt heat lamp to close or to far

[bobbi-j]

I got my babies! I ordered 10- I received 12!They are so precious. My husband already has a couple of favorites!

Cute little buggers!

 

[Christian Pedersen]

I just got my chicks yesterday. I built an MHP and they love it. I am brooding them outside in NJ (50 deg low last night and 60 degree high today). This morning they were not coming out from under the pad to eat or drink so I bought a 250 watt heat lamp and added that. I ran it most of the day and they were out exploring the coop and eating and drinking more. The coop is 5'X5.5' so they had plenty of room to find cool or warm spots. I placed it high enough that my hand felt warm but comfortable under the light. I turned it off this evening and they went back under the MHP. No chicks were baked.

 

[bruceha2000]

I got my babies! I ordered 10- I received 12!They are so precious. My husband already has a couple of favorites!

Congratulations! Is that a shallow kiddie pool they are in? If so you need to cover it, the little birds can jump/fly pretty far a lot younger than you would think.

 

[webbysmeme]

Congratulations! Is that a shallow kiddie pool they are in? If so you need to cover it, the little birds can jump/fly pretty far a lot younger than you would think.

I know! I had to put them in a sm coop in garage.

 

[bruceha2000]

 

[Blooie]

Sometimes the concept of using a heating pad...and JUST a heating pad, no additional lamp.....goes so against conventional chick raising wisdom that until you SEE It in action, it just doesn't seem like it's going to work safely. So I'll post this little video here of one on my 8 batches of Mama Heating Pad outdoor raised chicks. The temps had finally risen up to 38 degrees, with rain, but they don't seem to mind a bit. Temps had been in the 20s before the "Wyoming heat wave" and they were fine then, too.

The thing I love about this particular video is that it shows not only the warming side of MHP, but the nurturing side. They behave exactly as they would if they had a broody hen mommy. In the beginning, I was crouched between some of the chicks and MHP. They were frantically trying to get a way from this big monster in their brooder, giving off loud distress cheeps. Then I stood up, changed position slightly, and they made a beeline for their cave. Listen to what happens to the the cheeping!

 

[webbysmeme]

It would be good if you can make it adjustable somehow so it can “grow” with them. You want to start out with it about 2” off the floor because you want them to be able to touch their backs to it. That’s how they warm up under a hen - by contact. You need to be careful for loose fabric where they can become entrapped. Here are some pics of my MHP:

This is the top. Just cardboard. Easier to clean that way.
View attachment 1360244
The under side where they snuggle up to get warm.
View attachment 1360306

On the top picture, can you see the long bolts at the corners? They are adjustable so it can be raised or lowered as needed.

You don’t need a heat lamp with the MHP. My chicks are in the coop outside in temperatures down in the 30* temps at night without a heat lamp. The MHP keeps them warm enough as long as they can make contact with it.

I have one black jersey giant tat can fly! I had to move the coop into the garage last night! I'M usein my 250watt heat lamp now. I had to adjust it several times before they acted like they were happy. Their so sweet. I had one with a dirty booty. Cleaned him up and put triple antibiotic cream on him. I think I got this!

 

[bruceha2000]

Is the light wired to the pole or just clamped? If the latter, I suggest you also wire it on. Don't want to take a chance on it falling.

You shouldn't need any antibiotic cream for poopie butt. Just keep wetting a cotton swab and wetting the poop where it is stuck to the chick until it comes off. You shouldn't have to (and shouldn't) pull on it.

 

[webbysmeme]

Is the light wired to the pole or just clamped? If the latter, I suggest you also wire it on. Don't want to take a chance on it falling.

You shouldn't need any antibiotic cream for poopie butt. Just keep wetting a cotton swab and wetting the poop where it is stuck to the chick until it comes off. You shouldn't have to (and shouldn't) pull on it.

Too late for that info! I softened it with a warm cloth. But I did pull it off! What happens now? Did I hurt him?

 

[bruceha2000]

Probably not, not if it wasn't too big and dry. No blood no foul.

I had another thought about your brooder. If you haven't already, you might want to put a jar on the feeder. The little suckers will stand in the middle and eat. And poop. Chickens poop wherever they are standing when the urge strikes. I bet you've already noticed that.