Brooder Help

[eggcamefirst]

I have 6, one day old chicks coming in a week and I need some guidance in setting up the brooder. I have a rather large storage bin, with lid that I plan on keeping them in. I have seen plans where people have cut a hole in one end of the lid and put in some hardware cloth and place the bulb setup on that. I have a reflector, I just need to know if A) that setup will be enough and B) what wattage bulb is sufficient for 6 chicks. Also at what age can I start taking the chicks out of the brooder and letting them forage in the yard for a little while (supervised of course)?

 

[faykokoWV]

a wider bin would be better, that might get a little crowded as they grow. I like to set a dining room chair next to the brooder and clamp the light to the chair back. I tie the cord around the top of the chair. As they need less heat I keep moving the light higher on the chair. Given the size of your box, I would aim the light on one end of it. That way the chicks can go to the other end if they get too hot.

Taking them outside depend on where you're at and how warm it is. if its nice out, you can take them out any time.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

I hooked up my ReptiTemp 500R to my heat lamp and placed the probe in the brooder next to my thermometer. After a couple adjustments I had a steady temperature that left them inclined to use the whole brooder instead of bunching up under the lamp or far away.

 

[greenkjb]

Not sure if you have bought a bulb yet, but we had a 250 watt for our six chicks (born on Wed) and it was WAY too hot! I ended using a red regular 75 watt bulb with a reflector and it is working just fine. The chicks sleep underneath it, but not all huddled together.

 

[laseterlass]

Mine is a round toy bucket, the ones with the rope handles. Under a folding table, (that has garden starts on it), A reptile clamp light, clamped to the tables under structure, with a 100 watt red bulb and a thermostat. The room is warmed all day by southern sun too. I change the pine litter daily and I just had to put the water up on a roll of duct tape to keep them from pooping in it. I lock the door so the dogs, cats and kids cannot just come in and I let them in to observe as long as I am present. Once the little fuzz butts start jumping up. I am moving them to the half finished coop in the garage. I imagine that will cause some unhappiness, but Oh Well. I wanted them in the house so that everyone can adjust to one another and there are no surprises when half grown chickens show up in the yard.

 

[eggcamefirst]

It appears then that I have enough to start them out, but might need to move them into a larger container in a few weeks? What type of bulb should I get? 75W Red (or clear) incandescent or 75W red Heat bulb? Does it matter?

 

[laseterlass]

The red works better at night, they sleep under it without any noise. I had a 50 watt that brought it to 70. Went back and got a 100watt that brought it too 100 degrees in there. I found silicone coated lizard bulbs.They are incandescent.

 

[eggcamefirst]

What sort of container would be the right size for 6 chicks as they grow (since I will have to upgrade at some point)? Anyone have dimensions (or gallonage) for their containers pre-coop?