Brooder temperature questions

[flocknfoal]

Hi, New chick mama here.

I set up our brooder with two lights so that I could put a divider in the middle . The thing is, if I hook the thermometer on the wall of the brooder at chick level it shows more than 10 degrees cooler then if I lay it flat on the floor of the brooder under the light. It seems like the temperature when laying flat would be more accurate but I don't know whether the temperature recommendations are provided with the assumption that the thermometer is on the side. It's still in the low to mid-thirties here at night. If the guage is on the side it says 65 degrees in the morning - seems too cold. But if it's on the floor direcctly under the light it usually reads 75 in th morning and 85-90 during the time of day (this is with the light at the same level - if I lower the light obviously it's warmer).

My daughter bought 4 silkie chicks a few days ago. Two of them are 5 weeks old and two of them are 1 week old. They are all together and doing fine. They don't seem to be cold, but the little ones sleep almost under the larger ones, so I think that helps them stay warm. During the day they usually are at the far end of the brooder away from the light so it seems like it may be too warm. In the morning I find them sleeping under the light.

My concern is that I'll be getting 6 Barnevelder chicks in a day or two that will be ~2-3 days old and they will be more delicate (younger) than the Silkies.

What temperature should I be using - with the thermometer on the floor facing up towards the light or on the wall?

Thanks!

 

[countrygoddess]

I've never used a thermometer in my brooders; I just go by how the chicks are behaving and make adjustments accordingly. In a big ball under the lamp: lower it. Spread out to the edges of the brooder: raise it. And sometimes I tip it so it throws heat down as well as out because then part of the brooder will be warm but not too warm, but right under the lamp is nice and toasty.

 

[ArticStrat]

From what I have read, and did with my chicks, is that the floor temps should be between 95 and 100 for the 1st week, 90 and 95 the second 85 and 90 the third week and so on until you are about room temp, and the birds are fully feathered. If the chicks have enough room to move out of the heat if they are overheated, so much the better.

My 45 chicks are doing very well with this system. My brooder is 30" wide x 60"long x 30" tall, so they have plenty of room to move about. They do like the heat to sleep though. I put perches in it last weekend to give them more room as they grow fast. If they are too cold they will cheep loudly, and if too warm they will move away from the light and be panting.

Good luck.

 

[Crazy Chick]

On the first week it should be 95 at chick level and subtract 5 degrees every week until it gets to room temp.

 

[flocknfoal]

Thank you for the feedback. I understand the standard temperature based on weeks. What confused me is that all of the pictures I see have the brooder thermometer on the side of the coop at chick level. But when I put it there the termperature reads much lower than if I lay it on the floor. On the other hand, if I lay it on the floor they peck at it. "what is that strange thing you are putting in my bed??!".

So, it sounds like I should set the intial height of the brooder light based on the temp when the thermometer is on the ground facing up directly below the light, but once I know the approximate height for the tempurature for the week, then base it more on their behavior through the week?

 

[debid]

Here's what I do... I guess. I put the light at the minimum height recommended on the box (18") and then I move it up if they are sleeping around the edge. If they are avoiding the lamp, I switch to a lower wattage because I don't want a giant circle of heat for just a few chicks. So far, so good.

 

[spainterrd]

Do you keep the heat lamp on at night? Or do you just move it a little farther away to give some darkness?

 

[lazy gardener]

Do you keep the heat lamp on at night? Or do you just move it a little farther away to give some darkness?

Darkness has nothing to do with it. the only reason you are using a heat lamp is to provide heat, which they will need 24/7 for at least 4 weeks. If you turn your house heat back at night, it'll be that much more important for them to have the heat at night.

 

[LeskoLayers]

When is a good temp to take off the heat lamp and use the reg bulb?

 

[debid]

When is a good temp to take off the heat lamp and use the reg bulb?

Are you brooding in your house or outside? If in the house, there is no reason to use a 250W bulb. Ever. 60W is plenty in a 70-degree house and I'd have a 40 ready for when they have some feathers. If you're brooding outdoors, I use a 100W for temps over 30F and a 175W for teens through 20s. I alternated based on projected nighttime low and had to switch a few times with our wild spring weather changes. I found that if it's sunny and 70+, I need to pull the plug during the day with my setup. Yes, even with young chicks -- the sun is an effective heater.