Cold Brooder!

[amaranth320]

So, here's the deal. I'm setting up for the arrival of my first three chicks. I was planning on picking up some day-old Easter Eggers tomorrow at the feed store. I'd planned on using a big tupperware storage bin as a brooder. I've got the pine shavings, the feeder and waterer, and the heat lamp with a reflector and a 100 watt red heat bulb in it. The lamp is probably about 6-8" above the pine shavings (as low as I could get it). However, I can tell without even using a thermometer that it's waaaay too cold in there! I even tried lying the lid on top of the box with just enough room for the lamp to go in, but it's not working. I'd planned on keeping them in our storage room (an enclosed garage), but there's no heat in that room. My husband has allergies and doesn't want to bring them in the house if we can help it. Any brilliant ideas on how I can get that puppy warmed up to 95?!

 

[staceyl]

Do you have some insulation you can wrap around the tub?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Higher wattage bulb? I believe they come in 250 watts - not sure - I use a ceramic heat bulb.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

If they are going to be somewhere there's no heat, get the 250watt red bulb. Place a thermometer on the floor of the brooder so you will know what temp it is. No guessing. You can try putting a piece of cardboard over half of the box to help keep the heat in.

Also, forgot to add, If the floor is cold, you may want to put a rug, cardboard or something underneath the box.

 

[Keenonf]

Sounds like your going to have to invest a few more bucks into a 250 watt bulb. Its not that much though, I bought mine at my feed store for around 7 dollars.

 

[Keenonf]

Oh and by the way get a red one, I heard they'll peck at each other less if you do.

 

[amaranth320]

Okay - 250 watt bulb it is. So here's my NEXT question. The lamp/reflector I got says not to use bulbs over 100 watts because anything above that is a fire hazard. Where are you guys getting lamps that take 250 watt bulbs? This one looks just like the ones I've seen in everyone else's brooder pics, and the hardware store didn't have any that said they took 250's.

 

[CrazyMomOf2]

I just stopped by the Super Wal-Mart near my house the other day and picked up a brooder lamp and a 250 watt red heat bulb. It was really cheap there... found it all in with the rest of the light bulbs and hardware. I think I spent 6 or 7 dollars on both items together.

 

[silkiechicken]

How cold is it in the shed? Are there drafts? If it is just a few chicks and the shed isn't drafty 100W is more than enough. Just because it doesn't fell hot everywhere, doesn't mean it isn't hot under the lamp if you sit there for an hour. I brood chicks from day one outside in a 4x4 brooder with two 60W bulbs because in case one goes out, they have a back up. 120W total, that is all I had outside when there was 8 inches of snow and they were fine. Just a measily 120W to heat up a 4x4x6 enclosed space and they were up and about running from side to side. It was no where near 95F near the sides of the bator, but 6 inches under the lights, was over 100. Figuring your body temp is near 100, 100F isn't going to feel hot, it will be kind of like your body temp. Really, just toss a thermometer in the bottom under the light and I bet you it will be warmer than you think it is.

Here is my brooder... it's 1/2 inch thick walls and not insulated.

 

[gryeyes]

Something to be aware of: INFRARED heat lamps (not just heat lamps with red lenses) do NOT heat the air. You have to hold your hand in the light and start to feel the heat on your hand. It's very deceptive; I couldn't figger out why my peeps were all hanging out in the other end of the brooder for the first two days. Once I hung the lamp up a bit higher, and checked every hour or so, I found the best level for for the chicks in the brooder.

I used a 250w infrared lamp I bought at the feed store; they also sell them at pet stores that stock supplies for reptiles.