Chicks and Litter...

[DVTO2]

I moved my chicks out to their new coop at about 2 weeks, keeping it warm by closing the vents and using heat lamps. The coop is big enough (4' x 8' for 7 Golden Comets) for the chicks to cool off if they need to and I have a remote thermometer to make sure it's warm enough - two lamps of different wattages gives me flexibility for varying temperatures. I realized, however, that without ventilation, the air may reach poor quality without changing the litter. Any suggestions or guidelines here?

 

[Lesa]

What are your daytime temps like? Could you open the vents for a few hours in the warmth of the day?

 

[DVTO2]

Good suggestion. I will try that this weekend when I can watch it.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
I would leave the vents open being as if the chicks get cold they would hunker down under the lamps. Even with a 4x8 coop if you keep it closed up and heat lamps burning it seems that the temperature would max out and kill the chicks. Maybe I'm not understanding what you've written being as I'm not the sharpest blade in the drawer.

...and yes, whatever the case the chicks definitely need fresh air.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

Where are you located? Apparently somewhere rather cold.????

Ed

 

[DVTO2]

Northern CT. I am monitoring the temps rather closely with remote weather gauge I had been using for something else. it does get cold at night, between 35 and 45, and then warms up in the day to between 55 and 65, maybe 70. The lamps keep it warm but not too warm, about 80 to 85 at this point, and that's with only one lamp.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Northern CT, eh? A little different than lower Alabama...we're hitting in the 80's and needing some rain (hopefully this weekend!).

It sounds like the temperature is doing fine. It seems that ventilation should definitely be a priority, though. The ventilation will help to get the moisture out and hopefully avoid any respiratory problems. I think you're already on track with your intentions of opening the vents this weekend.

Is your temperature sensor underneath the lamp? That would be the place to put it, that way you know of a specific area that has the target temperature and other areas can be used as a "cool" area in case they need to get away from the heat. I read somewhere that radiant heat (heat lamps) to get a more accurate reading out of a thermometer subjected to a radiant heat source is to attach a piece of black electrical tape to the thermometer bulb/sensor. Not sure how it would work with yours but thought I'd mention it. Apparently the black tape absorbs the radiant heat better and gives a truer temp reading. YMMV

Sounds like you have a good setup, just need to get some ventilation going.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[DVTO2]

I left about 4 square feet of vents open for a couple of hours and the temp is 90 under the lamp. Since the coop is in a closed garage, it should stay warm enough tonight for them.

 

[RM44]

I brooded my babies in a closed garage all winter (bought them in December; moved them to the garage in early January). I used heat lamps close to the floor and my "brooder" was a 6x10 chain link dog kennel with some cardboard baffles on the bottom 12 inches just to keep the draft down and the bedding inside. I monitored the heat at the floor of the kennel, close to the light, and even though it was a bit colder than recommended, my chicks did fine. If they got cold, they simply huddled under the heat lamps. If they seemed to shiver even under the lamps, I simply lowered the lamps a bit. I think you have a great set up. Relax and enjoy those babies!

 

[kimb]

During the day - I have my "windows" open in the brooder - and my 2 heat lamps on but "dimmed" to about 1/2 power (they're on a dimmer switch so I can monitor the power = monitor the heat

)... today - where it was 68 the lights were on 1/4 power (both 250w heat lamps) on ... and it was 80 in the "cool corner" of the coop . At night I close the windows and just turn on the one red heat lamp at about 80% power - full power if it's going to be <40 ... the "cool" corner has never been below 70 - and of course under the lamp is probably 80 - 85 easily !

So my suggestion - is open the windows - turn on both lamps

... then at night - close the windows, turn off one lamp

... it works for me (I'm in Southern NH)