TheChookPatch - I have four girls: a GLW, Coro Sussex - both are just shy of six weeks old - and a Black Australorp and a Red Star, who are approximately one year old now.
Soon to be six girls, but waiting until my two young'uns (the GLW and Sussex) are permanently out of the brooder.
And thanks, satay!
SydneyChickens - I used an ordinary 75w bulb for the first few weeks, and when the chicks got more feathers, switched to a 60w. I just made sure that they were the ones that actually give off heat before the energy saving bulbs became popular, so I had to go and actually buy them as we only have the energy saving bulbs throughout my house. Chicks were (and are!) happy. It's fairly simple though, or, I thought it was - because the chicks will let you know if they're cold or not. If they are, they'll be directly under the bulb and might chirp frequently, and if they're not - they'll be off roaming the brooder, settling down on the outskirts of where the heat is directed. Just keep an eye on them.
I didn't think people would have massive enough brooders for a chick to lose it's way back to heat, though...****, I wonder how big some brooders can be...I just used an old (albeit large) plastic storage container with half of the lid cut out and chicken wire cable tied over the top. Seemed to do the job. -shrug- Chicks were never sick or complained about being cold...
- Edited, because I just realised it was 75 watt bulb I used, and not 100. It was in an ordinary desk lamp that has a flexible neck, so I had it hanging over the side of the container, but under the lid, so it was closer and the chicks could get warm easier, and then moved it later to sitting on top of the lid but with the 'neck' bent as low as possible to the chicken wire before switching to the 60 watt. Checked on my chicks about every half hour at a minimum to definitely make sure they weren't too cold, but they were always roaming around the brooder and seemed content enough. I don't think I ever once saw them huddling directly under the lamp. -
And thanks, satay!
SydneyChickens - I used an ordinary 75w bulb for the first few weeks, and when the chicks got more feathers, switched to a 60w. I just made sure that they were the ones that actually give off heat before the energy saving bulbs became popular, so I had to go and actually buy them as we only have the energy saving bulbs throughout my house. Chicks were (and are!) happy. It's fairly simple though, or, I thought it was - because the chicks will let you know if they're cold or not. If they are, they'll be directly under the bulb and might chirp frequently, and if they're not - they'll be off roaming the brooder, settling down on the outskirts of where the heat is directed. Just keep an eye on them.
I didn't think people would have massive enough brooders for a chick to lose it's way back to heat, though...****, I wonder how big some brooders can be...I just used an old (albeit large) plastic storage container with half of the lid cut out and chicken wire cable tied over the top. Seemed to do the job. -shrug- Chicks were never sick or complained about being cold...
- Edited, because I just realised it was 75 watt bulb I used, and not 100. It was in an ordinary desk lamp that has a flexible neck, so I had it hanging over the side of the container, but under the lid, so it was closer and the chicks could get warm easier, and then moved it later to sitting on top of the lid but with the 'neck' bent as low as possible to the chicken wire before switching to the 60 watt. Checked on my chicks about every half hour at a minimum to definitely make sure they weren't too cold, but they were always roaming around the brooder and seemed content enough. I don't think I ever once saw them huddling directly under the lamp. -
Last edited:
