Best way to keep 30 chicks warm outside in Michigan now?

[Dominicker Esquire]

I have 30 chicks in my outdoor brooding box. I live in Midmichigan near Mt Pleasant. Currently I have 2 heat lamps one with a heater bulb in it and the other has a regular incandescent light bulb in it. I was planning on buying another heat bulb to replace the incandescent light bulb but after reading all the posts about how heat lamps are bad and dangerous? Now I’m confused? I read all I could find on this site but I don’t know what to use? Ceramic bulbs? What kind of dimmer switch? Or heat plate?

 

[Mvan42]

Your heat lamps are fine. A regular bulb emits heat also.

Pictures of your set up will help

 

[DobieLover]

I have 30 chicks in my outdoor brooding box. I live in Midmichigan near Mt Pleasant. Currently I have 2 heat lamps one with a heater bulb in it and the other has a regular incandescent light bulb in it. I was planning on buying another heat bulb to replace the incandescent light bulb but after reading all the posts about how heat lamps are bad and dangerous? Now I’m confused? I read all I could find on this site but I don’t know what to use? Ceramic bulbs? What kind of dimmer switch? Or heat plate?

Are the chicks complaining? If not, don't worry about it.
How large is your brooder box for that many chicks? Are they layers or meat birds?

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

I have 30 chicks in my outdoor brooding box. I live in Midmichigan near Mt Pleasant. Currently I have 2 heat lamps one with a heater bulb in it and the other has a regular incandescent light bulb in it. I was planning on buying another heat bulb to replace the incandescent light bulb but after reading all the posts about how heat lamps are bad and dangerous? Now I’m confused? I read all I could find on this site but I don’t know what to use? Ceramic bulbs? What kind of dimmer switch? Or heat plate?

Your heat lamps are fine. A regular bulb emits heat also.

Pictures of your set up will help

.

here’s the set up it’s 6’ x 2.5’ x 23” tall.

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

Are the chicks complaining? If not, don't worry about it.
How large is your brooder box for that many chicks? Are they layers or meat birds?

Layers. And 10 are guineas. I posted pictures in a reply above. Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

Layers. And 10 are guineas. I posted pictures in a reply above. Thanks

They are going to outgrow that very quickly.
You also really should add chains or something to those lamps to better secure them. Just clamping them on is very dangerous.
I understand the first wall partition as it leads to a more unprotected area but why the second? I would remove it and put the heat all on one end with the food and water at the other, closer to the partition leading to the area with the HC front wall.

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

Your heat lamps are fine. A regular bulb emits heat also.

Pictures of your set up will help

They are going to outgrow that very quickly.
You also really should add chains or something to those lamps to better secure them. Just clamping them on is very dangerous.
I understand the first wall partition as it leads to a more unprotected area but why the second? I would remove it and put the heat all on one end with the food and water at the other, closer to the partition leading to the area with the HC front wall.

I added the second partition yesterday when I got more chicks to increase the heated area. I got the brooder from my neighbor with the original partition there already. What is HC referring to? I’m working on my coop this week which is a fairly large shed 8’ x 20’ Cement floor, that I’m converting. I plan on putting a larger brooding area if need in there? Thanks for the advice

 

[DobieLover]

I added the second partition yesterday when I got more chicks to increase the heated area. I got the brooder from my neighbor with the original partition there already. What is HC referring to? I’m working on my coop this week which is a fairly large shed 8’ x 20’ Cement floor, that I’m converting. I plan on putting a larger brooding area if need in there? Thanks for the advice

HC = hardware cloth
I would definitely brood in the coop once it's predator proof and you have finished all interior work. I have a built-in brooder in my coop with it's own attached run with a solid roof. It works very well for keeping the chicks healthy and active and getting them exposed to their environment to develop their immune systems.

 

[Dominicker Esquire]

HC = hardware cloth
I would definitely brood in the coop once it's predator proof and you have finished all interior work. I have a built-in brooder in my coop with it's own attached run with a solid roof. It works very well for keeping the chicks healthy and active and getting them exposed to their environment to develop their immune systems.

what is hardware cloth and how is it used/installed? I’m brand new here? If I leave the dividers up? How would you place the lights and food etc... also would you use heat lamps or ceramic to heat it? Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

what is hardware cloth and how is it used/installed? I’m brand new here? If I leave the dividers up? How would you place the lights and food etc... also would you use heat lamps or ceramic to heat it? Thanks!

I use a brooder plate, not a heat lamp. But before I got the plate, I used 150 wt ceramic.
I would remove this partition. And put the heat in the back left corner. And add chains and secure the chains high on the wall using a metal hook that is threaded into the upper framing.
You can also remove the 2x4 and turn it 90 degrees so you can still use the clamp for the original fastening of the lamp.

This is the hardware cloth I purchased but I built a large run and needed to enclose it. I bought three rolls.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C89QJU0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You can either secure it using fender washers and screws or hammer in 3/4" poultry staples. You can do the initial attachment using a pneumatic staple gun but those staples are completely in adequate for permanent secure attachment. They pull out with heat/thaw cycles.