brooder

[nhorrin]

I have a 4' by 4' brooder box in my unheated garage. Daytime high temp in the 60's and nightime low in 30's. What size (wattage) and how many heat lamps should I use? Is it best to use white or red lights or does this not make any difference. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Missoula Chicken Lady]

That's a big brooder box -- how many chicks are you planning on having in there? I would say at least one 125 or 250 watt red bulb, and probably two. The best thing is to do is to hang the brooder lamps above the brooder before you get the chicks, and place a thermometer in the bottom of the box in different locations. You can raise and lower the lamp to get the desired temperature. The first week the temp should be 95, the next week 90, and so forth. Make sure there are no really cold spots, or else they may wander over in a corner and get chilled, to no good end. Also make sure the box is not too hot, or they will pant and be miserable.

 

[Missoula Chicken Lady]

Also, because your space varies so much temperature-wise, you'll want to check on them often -- may be too hot during the day, and too cold at night. Watch what they do -- if they are pressed up against the sides of the box and panting, it's too hot. If they're piled on top of each other just below the lamp, it's too cold. Thermometer or no thermometer, you can always read their body language.

 

[Gray Ghost]

I have an 8' x 2' brooder and I just hang a 250 watt heat lamp about 18" high over one end. Mine is also in the garage where temps vary at least as much as yours do. I have found through 3 groups of chicks that they will be fine, they go directly under the lamp when it's cooler in the garage, move away from the lamp if they are too warm. I don't even move the lamp for 5 weeks, they just move towards it or away as they need. I stopped using the thermometer after the first few days of the first batch.

In short, a too-big brooder is a good thing, you can heat up one part of it and the chicks can regulate their own heat by moving around. I don't worry about chicks freezing in a corner for no reason. they are dumb but not that dumb.