Hi All,
Okay, so my first ever chickens are due this week, so tonight I set my home made brooder up for a test drive. I bought a 250 watt red heat bulb and was worried after reading some here that it might be too hot, so figured I should try it out while I still have time to get a new one if needed. I am using one of those large deep rubbermaid containers. The lamp is at one end of the container facing downwards. It has been running for 3 hours. Directly under the lamp the thermometer has it at 95.1. At the other far end, temperature reads 76. So I am guessing the area in between is varying degrees. Is this a sufficient temperature range for each chick to find a comfort zone? I know you can tell by their behavior but I am nervous for them since they are shipping and want things as perfect as possible from the get go.
My other question was I have no lid, but I am getting silkies and read they cannot fly, so they should not be able to get out or can they fly a little? They will be in a closed room, so safe from other pets.
My final question was about marbles for the water. I could not find any but I got those decorative glass rock things for crafts that look like marbles but are flat bottomed. Will this be ok? They do not roll and I was wondering if that was the purpose of the marbles? (I know probably a stupid question.) I did buy a chick waterer, so are the marbles even needed?
Thanks so much for info. I probably sound neurotic but now that they are coming in a few days I am so excited and nervous!
Okay, so my first ever chickens are due this week, so tonight I set my home made brooder up for a test drive. I bought a 250 watt red heat bulb and was worried after reading some here that it might be too hot, so figured I should try it out while I still have time to get a new one if needed. I am using one of those large deep rubbermaid containers. The lamp is at one end of the container facing downwards. It has been running for 3 hours. Directly under the lamp the thermometer has it at 95.1. At the other far end, temperature reads 76. So I am guessing the area in between is varying degrees. Is this a sufficient temperature range for each chick to find a comfort zone? I know you can tell by their behavior but I am nervous for them since they are shipping and want things as perfect as possible from the get go.
My other question was I have no lid, but I am getting silkies and read they cannot fly, so they should not be able to get out or can they fly a little? They will be in a closed room, so safe from other pets.
My final question was about marbles for the water. I could not find any but I got those decorative glass rock things for crafts that look like marbles but are flat bottomed. Will this be ok? They do not roll and I was wondering if that was the purpose of the marbles? (I know probably a stupid question.) I did buy a chick waterer, so are the marbles even needed?
Thanks so much for info. I probably sound neurotic but now that they are coming in a few days I am so excited and nervous!
