brooder question

[rayray983]

Okay so I set up my brooder today for the 45 eggs I have in incubator due to start hatching my question is I set up a 5ft by 8 ft area in a heated shop with 4ft high walls and two heat lamps inside the brooder temps in various spots are 75 to 98 degrees my question is if I have fewer chicks hatch would I need to downsize the brooder or would just a couple chicks be okay in that size space made it extra large so I wouldn't have to make a grow out brooder

 

[NinjaRooster]

I think that would be an ok size. looks like a good range in temperature too, although 98* will be to hot after a short while.

 

[rayray983]

98 is only directly under the heat lamps 75 is in the corners and the center of it ranges 88 to 95

 

[rayray983]

First time doing all this and researched a lot and wanted a wide range of temps so chicks could self regulate by choosing where they are comfortable also my plan is to increase the height of the heat lamps as the chicks get older so the tenps will drop

 

[lazy gardener]

The chicks will tell you if the temp is ok. You say the shop is heated. Is the temp pretty static? If you see chicks piling up, or chirping loudly, they're cold. They can show more signs of aggression if they're too warm. If they cluster under the lights, they need more heat.

 

[donrae]

Your set up sounds pretty nice for a brooder. I'm just wondering how long you intend to grow them out in there........40 square feet is plenty for new chicks, but for 8 week olds you're going to get cramped and start risking behaviors. Of course it also depends on how many you hatch.

 

[rayray983]

The heated shop is going to be the chicken coop 20ft x 20ft and the room temp is a steady 70 to 75 degrees after the chicks reached a month I planed on removing the walls and letting them have free run of the place and just leave a heat lamp on near the roost to keep them warm at night

 

[NinjaRooster]

20x20! Wow, that's big. I wish I had that much space for my birds; of course then I'd get lots more chickens. Hehe
Nice!

 

[rayray983]

Thanks ninja when I bought this place back in June one of the biggest selling features for me was its on a acre of land with two 20x20 shops one I use half for storage half for my cockatiels and the other I planed to have chickens all along just getting a slow start to it next week I'm fencing in half acre I don't use for the pen the chicken start ups gona get expensive lol

 

[aart]

In a 75 degree room, you'll probably only need a 60-100 watt bulb not a 250watt heat bulb.
Sounds like an ideal setup...oh to have that much room!
Probably helps that you just moved there, it hasn't filled up with other stuff yet...lol!