"heat" lamp in summer!

[RonC]

When you measure the temp it should be basically on the bedding under the light, at chick level and not the air temp in the entire brooder.

 

[CAjerseychick]

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!

Sounds like a fun assortment... We went whole hog for Jersey Giants (and free shipping for 15 so ended up with 19).... If we ever have room for more (already doubled the coop but its really meant for 10 to 14 birds) I might try for a Hatchery Assortment- which one do you order from? We are in Californa so went with CA Hatchery but they were pricey...
If you are def. going to keep doing chicks, I would certainly get an Eco glow they take the guess work and fire fears out of Chick Brooding....

 

[kyflock]

My last flock was all buff orpingtons... But I was in a climate that I had to be pretty picky to make sure they'd do okay. It's so much nicer being in a more moderate climate - it's so much easier to care for animals here. I got mine from mypetchicken. I had great service and great birds from them last time so when I saw this assortment as such an enticing deal, I just had to jump on it. It just worked out. I was looking for a handful of laying hens, and then wanted to get new chicks in the spring... but realized that if we hurried they'd have enough time before winter... but many places were sold out of what we wanted until too late - then this assortment came up available next week! yay!

I'm setting up the brooder today, then I'll get a more accurate temp on the bedding... Just to figure out what kind of lights I wanted I just put the thermometor on the floor in the room they'll be in. It's like an enclosed porch, but with lots of windows... so just by regulating how many windows are open or doors to the rest of the house I think we can keep in 80-90, so with a couple different wattage of bulbs on top of that I think we'll be good! I also found a new brooder. An old cabinet that we were going to trash, just took out the shelves, back was messed up and took that off, and I'll put a new floor in it. Much bigger and more comfy than the rubbermaid.

My husband had the idea of using a red sharpie to color the bulb? I'm thinking a bad idea, and that just a white light for the few weeks would be better. hmm...

 

[Reyort]

I put a 60 watt lamp on mine. Between that and the bedding they got too hot here in Texas. So i just made sure they had clean bedding. Now I let them roost in the run and they do just fine. They are 5 week old buff orpingtons. My chicks biggest issue was keeping them dry. I list one because it got wet then chilled.

 

[kays chicks]

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!

Raising Baby Chicks Forum Section on this site advised to use a infrared bulb for the heat lamp. This will produce a nice red and warm glow, that will give the chicks enough light for them to see, and not blinding them with a bright white light. White light, may also overstimulate the birds, causing them to become restless and noisy. It can also lead them to start picking each other, then eventually cannibalism. The nice, calm red glow of an infrared bulb does not overstimulate the chicks, it's not too dark for them to see, and it's not too light for them to be rowdy, it's just right, and is used by many breeders to help prevent pecking and cannibalism in their newly hatched flock.

 

[kyflock]

I've read that. That's why i wish so badly I could find a red bulb. Looked again today, only wattage I could find was 25watt, or the 250 heat bulb... which I know will just cook 'em! ah! I'm thinking 40-125 watt will work out the best... Still trying to figure out some way to make the light dimmer/red... With my bigger brooder I have now maybe I'll try to make "shady" spots somehow...

 

[CAjerseychick]

I've read that. That's why i wish so badly I could find a red bulb. Looked again today, only wattage I could find was 25watt, or the 250 heat bulb... which I know will just cook 'em! ah! I'm thinking 40-125 watt will work out the best... Still trying to figure out some way to make the light dimmer/red... With my bigger brooder I have now maybe I'll try to make "shady" spots somehow...

Dont feel too guilty Kyflock! I think especially during these summer months many of us use the regular white bulbs and the chicks are fine-- its summer and they wont need the heat too long anyway!

 

[Melabella]

Have you tried local hardware stores? The one close to me has them, I have 8 in my horses wash stalls, after I give them a bath, I fire up the infareds, and they are dry in no time!

 

[kays chicks]

I've read that. That's why i wish so badly I could find a red bulb. Looked again today, only wattage I could find was 25watt, or the 250 heat bulb... which I know will just cook 'em! ah! I'm thinking 40-125 watt will work out the best... Still trying to figure out some way to make the light dimmer/red... With my bigger brooder I have now maybe I'll try to make "shady" spots somehow...

try ebay they have some on there or a fire / heating shop . they use red bulbs in electric fires for the warm glow

good luck !!

 

[kays chicks]

OR just seen this hope this helps ????

How to Color Light Bulbs | eHow.com


www.ehow.com
You can color light bulbs yourself with the right materials and a little creativity. Buy glass paint from a discount store or craft supply store. Find clear light bulbs that suit your purposes. You can paint on a white light bulb, but the transparency of the clear bulb allows the colors of the paint to remain true.