Brooder Help

[bleith]

Quote:
That will probably work fine. You did the right thing checking. If they are too cold they will try to pile on each other, if they are too hot they will spread out and look half dead and even pant. Just keep a careful eye on them for a few hours and gradually decrease the heat as they add feathers about 5 degrees a week. Take lots of deep breaths!

x2, just put light in one corner, I would probably decrees wattage though if indoors.

 

[Bantam Username]

Do get rid of that tin foil though and use cardboard instead. They'll be attracted to the shinyness of it and will peck and peck til its torn and you don't want them eating that!

 

[Alethea]

You've gotten some good advice here. We used a 250 watt lamp. The brooder was in what is now the coop and which is an old wood store. There is no insulation. Having the lamp over one corner of the brooder was sufficient. When they got older, we removed the brooder, and had the lamp on at night so they could use it as needed. They do need to be able to move into and out of the heat. Most importantly, relax and enjoy your chicks.

 

[shanshan51]

Will do. I took them off the rotators last night. Now its the dreaded wait game.

 

[peepblessed]

Let us know how the hatch goes!

 

[loanwizard]

I have a 400 watt grow lamp AND a 500 watt halogen on mine. I did have to raise the halogen though because it got to 100 degrees. I just turned off the halogen last night..... day 3 or 4. They did drink a ton of water but I had the lamp on one end of the box so they could move away. I can't imagine only using a 100 watt bulb. I might try that on the next batch in 19 days lol!

 

[peepblessed]

Quote:
So much depends on the temperature of the room that the brooder is in. I used a 100w about 14" away at one end of the brooder and it was perfect. I had to change to 60w after 10 days as they were getting too warm. My room temp averaged about 70 degrees.

 

[shanshan51]

I will post pics for sure!!!