brooder heat qustion

[vnsseed]

Hi,
I am new to this and I want to make sure I don't lose my chicks. I have built a 4x4x2ft brooder out of plywood, with a hardware wire top. The brooder is 2ft off the ground and will be in my garage, where the ambient temp is 50 degrees, give or take 5 degrees. I have two 250 watt heat lamps and after running the lamps for 3 hours, it was only 60 degrees in the brooder (I have a thermometer at either end of the brooder) and the heat lamps are on the diagnal corners. My 12 Dominiques will be here in April and I want to be ready for them. How long should I run the heat lamps before I put them in? Should I do something different? The lamps are about 24" off the bottom of the brooder. Thanks in advance.

 

[Snakeoil]

60 degrees is too cold for chicks, the heat needs to be right at 90 - 95 degrees which you can drop 5 degrees a week. If you can only get 60 degrees you need to lower the lights until the heat gets to where it needs to be.

 

[vnsseed]

I should have clarified, I realize it needs to be 95, what I am wondering is how long, on average, does it take for a 4x4x2ft area to get to 95 degrees?

 

[vnsseed]

UPDATE:
Thanks to NH BYC member Gypsy for her recommendations on my brooder heat issue.

I have covered half of the 4x4ft area of hardware wire with a blanket and am already seeing a temp difference. I may block off half of the brooder with plywood and only heat a 2x4 ft area with one heat lamp, since I only have 12 chicks coming, and maybe some type of a backup heat, in case the bulb burns out.

Thanks again, Gypsy.

 

[bigzio]

Usually 18" from the brooder floor is the right height, providing you have room for the peeps to come and go under the heat as needed.

~ bigzio

 

[cmom]

I have alway had chicks in the dead of winter. I cover my brooder with a blanket. I also have a wireless digital thermometer with an alarm so if for any reason the lamp goes out (which has happened) the alarm will sound. One of my brooders is 3' x 3' x 2'.