Expecting 19F Saturday Night so I'm Nervous -- Advice Wanted.

[Priscila Leone]

I have 7 chicks, 6 that hatched Tuesday and one straggler from Wednesday in my 4x8, Outdoor Brooder.

View attachment 3021260

Last night was down around 40F and the lamp kept the spot right under it about 90-95F with it as low as I feel safe putting it.

View attachment 3021262

They weren't complaining, but they were cuddled pretty tightly. I don't know that this setup is going to be good for 20 degrees colder -- I'm used to coping with excessive heat, not chicks below freezing -- so I'm looking for advice.

Should I add a second lamp if the extension will take the draw safely?

Should I do something to confine them more closely and reflect heat back? Close off some of my 16 square feet of ventilation (could be easier said than done given the design)?

Should I bring them inside those two nights?

Saturday night is forecast to be down to 19F, Sunday down to 29 (days in the 50's), then the temps will rise back to 40F or above. 19F is a very unusual cold snap for us at this time of year.

I know some people brood outdoors in this kind of weather but I don't know how the setup differs.

You've got only 7 chicks in a huge brooder. At this tender age they don't need so much room, and that space is proving difficult to keep heated. Why don't you bring them indoors, inside a box, with the heat lamp on top?

 

[chickencoop57]

I would bring them in for the few cold nights. Plus, that's a big area for them lil guys. that one heat lamp isn't sufficient enough for it, and putting pine shavings on the floor would also help them stay warm.
My incubator is in my bedroom and next to it I have a small box on a stand and a heat lamp mounted about 20" above them. The box has pine shavings in it and lil water and feeders in as well as a thermometer, (wrapped in plastic). They stay in there for 3 days and then I move them outdoors to another room or my greenhouse but I put them in a 3'L x 18"Hx 16"w plastic container, I bought from Walmart. It'll have the same things in it as the small box, except I put a piece of Hardware clothe over the top.
The heat lamp can be set on top of the wire or mounted above them, just depends on how cool it is outside, just keep an eye on the thermometer. After about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks or they've got quite a bit of feathers, I move them out to the enclosed coop run where I have a petitioned area built just for chicks, to protect them from the older chickens but yet can still get acquainted.
And as they get older, I eventually raise a little door were they can run in and out and mingle with the older. Works out pretty well! Hope this helps.

 

[joydix]

I have 7 chicks, 6 that hatched Tuesday and one straggler from Wednesday in my 4x8, Outdoor Brooder.

View attachment 3021260

Last night was down around 40F and the lamp kept the spot right under it about 90-95F with it as low as I feel safe putting it.

View attachment 3021262

They weren't complaining, but they were cuddled pretty tightly. I don't know that this setup is going to be good for 20 degrees colder -- I'm used to coping with excessive heat, not chicks below freezing -- so I'm looking for advice.

Should I add a second lamp if the extension will take the draw safely?

Should I do something to confine them more closely and reflect heat back? Close off some of my 16 square feet of ventilation (could be easier said than done given the design)?

Should I bring them inside those two nights?

Saturday night is forecast to be down to 19F, Sunday down to 29 (days in the 50's), then the temps will rise back to 40F or above. 19F is a very unusual cold snap for us at this time of year.

I know some people brood outdoors in this kind of weather but I don't know how the setup differs.

They are so small…bring them in! Why not??? Also maybe drape a tarp so like a tent …? And with the bricks as suggested it would hold heat better. I’d prob bring them in tho. Good bonding experience!

 

[3KillerBs]

How did everyone fare? And what did you end up doing?

I used the heat lamp to keep the area around the plate warm enough for the plate to be effective.

You've got only 7 chicks in a huge brooder. At this tender age they don't need so much room, and that space is proving difficult to keep heated. Why don't you bring them indoors, inside a box, with the heat lamp on top?

We don't do chickens in the house and have no safe place where the cats wouldn't get them.

The entire space needn't be heated as long as the chicks know where to go to get warm.

My huge brooder is not an issue -- they stick close to the water and food for a few days and then they go exploring all around the place enjoying their freedom.

 

[Ridgerunner]

and that space is proving difficult to keep heated.

that one heat lamp isn't sufficient enough for it

To clarify, you do not need to heat the entire brooder, especially when you brood outside in those temperature swings. They need a warm enough spot in the coolest weather and a cool enough spot in the warmest weather. Inside a climate controlled house that isn't as important but you can see huge temperature swings pretty much overnight if you brood outside.

I put chicks straight out of the incubator or from the post office in my 3' x 6' brooder even when the outside temperatures are below freezing. The far end of the brooder may have ice in it but where the chicks are it is toasty warm. When it warms up into the 70's Fahrenheit a day or two later they leave the hot area and go where it comfortably cool. I provide a range of temperatures so they can decide where they are comfortable.

 

[chickencoop57]

To clarify, you do not need to heat the entire brooder, especially when you brood outside in those temperature swings. They need a warm enough spot in the coolest weather and a cool enough spot in the warmest weather. Inside a climate controlled house that isn't as important but you can see huge temperature swings pretty much overnight if you brood outside.

I put chicks straight out of the incubator or from the post office in my 3' x 6' brooder even when the outside temperatures are below freezing. The far end of the brooder may have ice in it but where the chicks are it is toasty warm. When it warms up into the 70's Fahrenheit a day or two later they leave the hot area and go where it comfortably cool. I provide a range of temperatures so they can decide where they are comfortable.

True but if it's in a room and not a brooder, that makes a difference too. As far as temperature swings, thus the thermometer!

 

[3KillerBs]

To clarify, you do not need to heat the entire brooder, especially when you brood outside in those temperature swings. They need a warm enough spot in the coolest weather and a cool enough spot in the warmest weather. Inside a climate controlled house that isn't as important but you can see huge temperature swings pretty much overnight if you brood outside.

I put chicks straight out of the incubator or from the post office in my 3' x 6' brooder even when the outside temperatures are below freezing. The far end of the brooder may have ice in it but where the chicks are it is toasty warm. When it warms up into the 70's Fahrenheit a day or two later they leave the hot area and go where it comfortably cool. I provide a range of temperatures so they can decide where they are comfortable.

And by following your advice I had multiple batches of healthy chicks last year.

But I was nervous about that unusual cold snap and y'all got me sorted out nicely.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I brood outside also. Pretty darn perfect weather here most all of the time but on the few cooler nights I have a 4 sided plywood cube, basically an open top and bottom box with long open cutout doors- a brooder within a brooder. It captures and concentrates the heat but also leaves an escape for them to regulate when they need. I can move the cube under the fixed lamps intensity above L or R as needed. The lamp also warms the wood walls and that radiates the heat nicely. I found the babies like to hang at the doors or next to wood.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Someone probably already suggested this, but what about a mama heating pad? In your set up, it might be even better than a heating plate.

 

[3KillerBs]

Someone probably already suggested this, but what about a mama heating pad? In your set up, it might be even better than a heating plate.

I don't trust a heating pad for safety.

Even one without a shutoff is not designed for 4-6 weeks of continuous operation -- even if I don't end up hatching back-to-back-to-back batches of chicks.