"heat" lamp in summer!

[kyflock]

Hi! I'm getting a new flock next week... I used to live far far north where it's SOOO cold in March - which is when I got our last flock. We used an indoor brooder and a big heat lamp for a really long time... Well, it's 90 degrees in the part of the house the new chicks will be in, and at night the temp drops to maybe 80? maybe less some nights. So - I'm thinkin at 250 watt heat lamp is just overkill. But isn't a white light bad for them? Do people have any luck at all finding lower watt red lights?

How do ya'll regulate temps in the summer???

oh - and do you think a rubbermaid bin will be big enough for 15? They'll probably only be in there 1 week, possibly 2, then will move into different enclosed/indoor quarters...

thanks sooo much! I just joined up today after reading threads and looking at pics for SOO long!

 

[CAjerseychick]

Hi! I'm getting a new flock next week... I used to live far far north where it's SOOO cold in March - which is when I got our last flock. We used an indoor brooder and a big heat lamp for a really long time... Well, it's 90 degrees in the part of the house the new chicks will be in, and at night the temp drops to maybe 80? maybe less some nights. So - I'm thinkin at 250 watt heat lamp is just overkill. But isn't a white light bad for them? Do people have any luck at all finding lower watt red lights?

How do ya'll regulate temps in the summer???

oh - and do you think a rubbermaid bin will be big enough for 15? They'll probably only be in there 1 week, possibly 2, then will move into different enclosed/indoor quarters...

thanks sooo much! I just joined up today after reading threads and looking at pics for SOO long!

I have 15 as well-- we did heat 24/7 for the first week (true cold spell, 70's day upper 40's at night) but now that its back to 90's day/ 50-60's at night we only use the lamp at night and since they are indoors probably will discontinue the lamp week 3- but keep them indoors at night thru the 4th week and then out they go into the coop....
If your temps drop to 80 at night I still would use the lamp at night for at least the first week but make sure they have space to get away from the lamp if it gets too hot--- I would not use a 250 wattage light at the temps you are describing...
We used a 125 watt white light-- it does keep them up and active at night, but they are healthy and they seem to nap during the heat of the day in the shade this way (we have them out in a side run for playtime during the day). You probably could squeeze them into the tub for the first week but they will be happier (less pecking issues) with more room I think, try what we did -- just attached a 4x4 ft cardboard box to the brooder (dog crate with lamp attached) as their indoor run-- they seem to appreciate the room and like perching on the tree branches we put in there.... They were 2 weeks old Tues!

 

[RonC]

You can find lower wattage heatlamps or a regular bulb should be sufficient this time of year. You can find the regular bulbs in red also. 60 watts should be enough. You may not even need a heatlamp in the daytime after the first week. Fifteen can generate quiet a bit of heat by huddling together while sleeping also.
I see many people use the Rubbermaid containers but am not a fan of them. Lack of ventilation and not enough room to escape from the heat are my concerns. Give them all the room you can.That's my .02.

 

[kyflock]

Thanks! We built such a nice brooder for our last bunch. I'm a believer in the more space the better idea too. With a lower wattage bulb than the 250 I'm thinking I might rig something out of a huge cardboard box or boxes together instead (we just moved and have PLENTY in the barn!). We have a sort of brooder/smaller enclosure within their permanent digs that we're still working on, but I want them inside so I can better regulate heat and keep an eye on them at first. I might just get different wattage bulbs and just check really often to see how it's regulating. We have 2 young kids - so we're up through the night anyhoo... so we can check frequently.

Glad to know the white bulbs might work in a pinch. Last time I went looking for red bulbs I couldn't find any... but I was in a pretty isolated area without much shopping possibilities.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[CAjerseychick]

Thanks! We built such a nice brooder for our last bunch. I'm a believer in the more space the better idea too. With a lower wattage bulb than the 250 I'm thinking I might rig something out of a huge cardboard box or boxes together instead (we just moved and have PLENTY in the barn!). We have a sort of brooder/smaller enclosure within their permanent digs that we're still working on, but I want them inside so I can better regulate heat and keep an eye on them at first. I might just get different wattage bulbs and just check really often to see how it's regulating. We have 2 young kids - so we're up through the night anyhoo... so we can check frequently.

Glad to know the white bulbs might work in a pinch. Last time I went looking for red bulbs I couldn't find any... but I was in a pretty isolated area without much shopping possibilities.

Thanks for the ideas!

Your welcome! And you will find that its fun to construct with cardboard...

 

[Melabella]

Hello KYflock! I am new here as well, and did the same thing, as I am now,,, spending hours reading, looking at photos and learning so much. SO happy to have found BYC.

I can't say enough about the brooder heating Brinsea EcoGlow20. I have my 4 day old chicks, (10 of them) out in my feed room attached to my horse barn. I bought it because I couldn't bare the thought of even the slightest risk of fire with a traditional brooder light. Perhaps the greatest thing I love about the EcoGlow is the fact that it isn't a light at all, and the very first evening, as soon as the sun set, the little peeps began to slow down, and by the time I was done bringing in the horses, feeding, setting hay, and topping off water buckets, I peeked in and they were all tucked in fast asleep. It's adorable to see them all dissapear under the unit, which is supposed to simulate mama hen, heating by close contact with a heating panel. There are 3 adjustable settings for height, to raise as the chicks get larger, and by the time they can't fit under, I guess they don't need it any more. Loving the fact that my girls are learning the sleep cycle so soon in their lives, and I don't hear a sound once it's dark. It was very hot and humid here upstate NY today, temps in my shed were very high, two great windows for ventilation, but still was very warm. I noticed they didn't need to go under the EG, but I felt very happy it was there if they do need it. Also apparently costs much less than a heat lamp too. Just some food for thought..

What type of chicks are you expecting? Would love to hear. Welcome to BYC!

MB

 

[kborges]

I'm going to have to look into the EcoGlow light. Sounds safer. The heat lamp is ziptied in two places b/c I worry about it falling and causing a fire...

Thank you!

Karen

 

[CAjerseychick]

I'm going to have to look into the EcoGlow light. Sounds safer. The heat lamp is ziptied in two places b/c I worry about it falling and causing a fire...

Thank you!

Karen

Karen,
Ecoglow sounds like a great product, I really wished I had one (hadnt expected to do dayolds ) when I got my order in-- I guess the surprise for me was the 3-5 week ordering/ ship time-- so I would reccomend ordering in advance of chick arrival if you are planning on getting one -- they def. seem like something to invest in if you are going to do baby chicks yearly....
I am sort of on the fence about repeating the day-old chick experience, hoping to hatch out my own via broody hen(s) next year.... Just MHO....

 

[Melabella]

"Also apparently costs much less than a heat lamp too."

Opps, I meant, it cost less for the electricity to run it, not the cost of the unit itself! That is a bit more! lol.
MB

 

[kyflock]

The ecoglow seems so great! I just stumbled across it this past couple days ago. I don't think I have enough time to get one this time... but we're thinking of getting guineas or more chicks in the spring.. so if this is something we'll end up doing again ( it is addictive, ya know... so it's probably going to happen!) I think I'll get one of those. I've had a thermometor in the place the brooder will be and it hovers most of the day just below 90 so far... without anything. Went to TSC and got a white 125 watt heat bulb and some 75 watt regular bulbs. I really really want to find red, but so far I can't find any. I'll look again tomorrow at a different store.

I got a layer assortment of 15, their choice of:

• Rhode Island Red
• New Hampshire Red
• Red Star
• Speckled Sussex
• Dark Cornish
• Light Brahma
• Australorp
• Buff Orpington
• Dominique
• Barred Plymouth Rock
• White Plymouth Rock
• Partridge Plymouth Rock
• Delaware
• Golden Laced Wyandotte
• Silver Laced Wyandotte
• Columbian Wyandotte
• Black Jersey Giant

It was SUCH a good deal, basically giving them away for free - cause it included shipping. I think they have some more lots left. I got my last bunch from the same company and really wanted a variety this time just for fun... and almost all of those were kinds we were thinking of... so! They should come on wednesday - I'm really close to where they hatch I believe. I"m hoping for some rocks and wyandottes, australorps or orpingtons... we'll see what we get!