And so it has begun....

[gvilledh]

What I've been told and what we are finding, is the chicks will let you know. We are using a 60 watt bulb and it is fine. Are they inside or outside? That will make a big difference. If outside, 40watt may be plenty. If you don't get any more answers here, start a new thread and see if you get better information.

 

[AKsmama]

Please use a thermometer in your brooder. More than one chick has been fried or frozen to death by someone using the "they'll let you know when they're hot or cold" method. A thermometer in conjunction with their actions is much more reliable.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For smaller food containers I got a bunch of various sized glass ashtrays at a garage sale for about 75 cents. Easy to disinfect. They work well for serving yogurt.

The rule of thumb is 95 for the first week 90 the second dropping 5 each week until supplemental no longer needed.
As said, too hot isn't good.
In a warm room they may only need supplemental heat a couple weeks. Especially in a small container since they'll generate some of their own. Usually if they get too hot they'll start chirping like mad since there's no way to escape the heat in a small container.
If too cool, they'll crowd together.

I prefer to use a larger brood area with warm and cool zones regardless of the number of chicks in an outbuilding. That way I don't have to worry about a thermometer which they usually destroy.

 

[Eggcessive]

I like the red lights for chicks since the young ones eat and play 24 hours a day between naps. There are all kinds of red light bulbs out there if you look for them. I have found 25, 60, 85, 125, and 250. Some are plain old incandescent, flourescent, flood lights, and infrared. Use a thermometer, but they all put out some heat and just raise the height of them when they are too hot. In air conditioning I think they need a little heat, but outside probably only at night.

 

[psyverson]

Oh, yes, most certainly a thermometer. Like I said, New Orleans daytime temps are mid 90s right now, and steady 80s at night
so I figure I'll have about 3 weeks of worry and then they'll be fine.

Thanks,

Pete