About to get some chicks....

[TwinWillowAcres]

Okay, well I ended up going on the web site of a local co-op, they will have white leghorn pullets in on March 4. First come, first serve. Guess where I'm going to be at 8 in the morning?

 

[Too Fast]

We're getting our first chicks ever this Friday at TSC. Today they got in some Amberlinks, White Leghorns, Silver laced Wyandottes and Cornish Rocks. We are going with 2 each of Ambers, WL, and SLWyandottes. Might get 1 more of 1 or 2, but we don't want more than 8 for our 32 sq ft coop. Very excited, this is our first go-around with chicks/hens of any type.

We have our little container ready with shavings. We have a reflector lamp, but not a heat lamp. Use a 60 watt bulb? Or a 75? Do we really need a heat lamp? Have about 44 hours to get the right lamp....

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

@TooFast: Aim for the correct temperatures under the light. It can be warmer under the light than recommended as long as they have space to get away from the lamp - which they don't inside a small brooder box. So you will have to monitor them carefully and watch for panting (hot) or loud chirping and huddling (cold).

1st week of life 90-95 degrees and decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered (70 degrees is lowest you go) even on their heads. In winter I wean them even more carefully than that and give them a low wattage light even longer. Depends on the weather.

For a small brooder box inside a home you might be ok with a 60 watt bulb. It is a must to check your temps.

If your box is going to be in the garage you might need more wattage - but I'd not be inclined to use a "heat bulb" in a small box for risk of fire. I use personally one to three 100 watt bulbs for brooding, adjusting for temperatures.

They will outgrow the box very quickly, so have in place a plan for letting them have some more space when they get bigger. See:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Okay, well I ended up going on the web site of a local co-op, they will have white leghorn pullets in on March 4. First come, first serve. Guess where I'm going to be at 8 in the morning?

Enjoy your chickens! I am trying leghorns too- mine are three weeks old right now. They are very brave and on the top of the pecking order.

 

[Too Fast]

@TooFast: Aim for the correct temperatures under the light. It can be warmer under the light than recommended as long as they have space to get away from the lamp - which they don't inside a small brooder box. So you will have to monitor them carefully and watch for panting (hot) or loud chirping and huddling (cold).

1st week of life 90-95 degrees and decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered (70 degrees is lowest you go) even on their heads. In winter I wean them even more carefully than that and give them a low wattage light even longer. Depends on the weather.

For a small brooder box inside a home you might be ok with a 60 watt bulb. It is a must to check your temps.

If your box is going to be in the garage you might need more wattage - but I'd not be inclined to use a "heat bulb" in a small box for risk of fire. I use personally one to three 100 watt bulbs for brooding, adjusting for temperatures.

They will outgrow the box very quickly, so have in place a plan for letting them have some more space when they get bigger. See:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures

Thanks for the advice/link. I have an infrared laser temp thing I can check the temps with, and we will be having our chicks indoors the first few weeks. Then we'll see what happens! I know they grow quick. This weekend we are making more progress on the coop, the posts are in the ground and plan on doing much more.

 

[queenchick16]

We're getting our first chicks ever this Friday at TSC.  Today they got in some Amberlinks, White Leghorns, Silver laced Wyandottes and Cornish Rocks.  We are going with 2 each of Ambers, WL, and SLWyandottes.  Might get 1 more of 1 or 2, but we don't want more than 8 for our 32 sq ft coop.  Very excited, this is our first go-around with chicks/hens of any type. 

We have our little container ready with shavings.  We have a reflector lamp, but not a heat lamp.  Use a 60 watt bulb?  Or a 75?  Do we really need a heat lamp?  Have about 44 hours to get the right lamp....

Start with the 75 what now with a thermometer on the bedding under the light and see how hot it gets.
I use a 75 whatt and it is fine. I would also suggest putting layers of paper towels down for the first few days. They are pooping machines and they tend to eat shavings and straw. When they are a few days older I then swap out the paper towels. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Catfish267]

Hey, be careful with those brooder lamps. Many barn fires start that way. I found that a 100watt bulb works just fine.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I am getting 4 more chicks this spring! I am so excited! I already have 12. BUT I would strongly suggest using a heat lamp, or at least a 75 watt lightbulb. I have a 3'x6' bottom of a dog house I used for the first month or so with my 12 chicks, and that was pushing it with a little more then half a foot of room.

 

[albchickenfarm]

FUN FUN!

 

[Kiniska]

I use an old rubber maid water trough for my brooder. 12 chicks do pretty well in it for about 3 weeks. After that they need bigger digs. I have them in the house with a heat lamp on pine shavings. The lamp is clipped up on a pole so I can adjust the height. just watch the chicks they will tell you if they are cold or too hot. If they all huddle up tight under the focal point of the lamp they are too cold. If they are laying with wings spread open as far away as they can get from the light then they are way too hot.

Hope that helps!