Controlling the temperature.

[AndrewKroger]

Hi all,
Soon, I'll be hatching baby chickens and have been reading books, articles and other forum posts. I understand that every week from when the chickens have hatched, I must lower the temperature in the brooder by 5 degrees Celsius. True or false?

If this is true, I'm thinking of using the Birnsea Eco glow for the little chick's heat source, is there any way to adjust the temperature on this to fit the above criteria?
Thanks,
Andrew.

 

[TaylorHobbyFarms]

True that you need to lower it by 5 degrees Farenheit every week. Of course, the main thing is to watch your chicks and gauge their reactions.

As far as the Brinsea Eco glow, I am unsure. I just downgrade the lightbulbs that we use in our homemade brooders from 250 watts to 200 watts to 100 watts and so forth.

 

[tec27]

Fahrenheit!!!! I always thought it was easier to build your own brooder out of something and then connect your light source to a dimmer switch.

 

[BoltonChicken]

A sixty watt bulb should be plenty. If the chicks gather up under it they are cold and you can lower the light six inches or so to judge their reaction. If they scatter from the light then they are too hot and you should raise the bulb six inches or so, etc. You CAN us a thermometer, and a large bulb but to me simpler is better. The dimmer is a good idea.

 

[AndrewKroger]

Thanks for the posts everyone! I think the idea of the dimmer switch sounds good, I may try that. Still. Dose anyone have any knowledge of the Brinsea ecoglow?
Thanks,
Andrew.

 

[starhobo14]

I used a normal 125W heat lamp, and dimmer switch as well as my eyes to adjust the intensity. If they huddle close together they are too cold, if they move to the outer limits of their container then it's too hot. Easy peasy.

 

[The Lazy L]

Thanks for the posts everyone! I think the idea of the dimmer switch sounds good, I may try that. Still. Dose anyone have any knowledge of the Brinsea ecoglow?
Thanks,
Andrew.

Doesn't a Birnsea Eco glow operate with a 12 DC power adapter? If yes wouldn't a "dimmer switch" on the AC side burn up the 12 DC power adapter?

Raise the legs on the Birnsea Eco glow to reduce the "heat".

 

[Fred's Hens]

Andrew, remember also that so much depends on where you are brooding. Outdoors in a barn, as I do, in 30F- 40F ambient temperatures? Well, I use a series of heat lamps on a rack above them. This allows me to provide temperatures according to their needs. They will tell you!! If they huddle and peep loudly? They are cold. If they avoid the heat, or stand and pant with wings held up? They are being dangerously cooked!!! Those are the extremes. Those behaviors are much more important than hyper specificity about whether 86F or 90F is too hot or too cold. Much better to just observe the chicks.

If you brood inside, in a laundry room, where the ambient temperature is 70F, of course, you're not going to need to provide anywhere near the amount of heat you'd need to provide in an unheated building. Common sense. I hope that clears up some of the divergent opinions expressed, Without the context of the other details, the answers may seem to vary widely, when really, the answers are just given assuming the poster's own environment where they brood.

 

[cva34]

Doesn't a Birnsea Eco glow operate with a 12 DC power adapter? If yes wouldn't a "dimmer switch" on the AC side burn up the 12 DC power adapter?

Raise the legs on the Birnsea Eco glow to reduce the "heat".

X-2 on that....cva34