Heat lamp question! Help!

[FirstTimeChikens]

My heat lamp in my brooder doesn't have a temperature on it, I read that every week you are supposed to turn it down 5 degrees. What should I do if I'm unable to turn it down? I guess I could try to buy another one, but that seems unnecessary, so I asked here first!

 

[Debbie292d]

We have a thermometer on the floor of the brooder. I raise and lower the heat lamp until it's perfect. It's on a small chain hooked on a hook, so as the chicks grow up, I can keep raising it a link or two.

Govee is the brand we use but there are cheaper ones too.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

We have a thermometer on the floor of the brooder. I raise and lower the heat lamp until it's perfect. It's on a small chain hooked on a hook, so as the chicks grow up, I can keep raising it a link or two.

Govee is the brand we use but there are cheaper ones too.

Thank you so much!!!!! Mine attaches to the side of the brooder by a clamp but I'll see it I can do something similar!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah, you read that 5 degrees a week on here a lot but I ignore it. If you manage the 5 degrees a week thing you will be extremely safe as far as keeping them warm enough.

Where are you located so we can have an idea about your weather and temperatures? If you modify your profile that information is always available, like mine and Debbie's. That information comes in handy for a lot of questions.

I go about it differently. I use a heat lamp in my brooder in the coop to keep one area warm enough all of the time. Since it is outside, temperature swings can cause issues with maintaining a steady temperature. I can go from below freezing to the 70's Fahrenheit in a day. So my brooder is big enough and has sufficient ventilation that one end stays toasty in the coldest weather but the far end stays cool enough in the warmest conditions. Even if the warm end is too warm the chicks simply go to where they are comfortable.

When a broody hen raises them they spend a lot of time out running around, eating, drinking, and playing. When they get cold they go back under her to warm up. I use the same principle. Many people would be surprised to see how much time the chicks spend in the cooler portions of the brooder or in cold conditions with a broody.

If you are indoors with climate controlled AC or heat, this can be a lot easier. You don't have big temperature swings so providing a place warm enough with another spot cool enough should be pretty easy.

What should I do if I'm unable to turn it down?

You are under a very common misconception. The chicks can handle cooler temperatures as they grow older but are in danger if it gets too cool too fast. Very true. That does not mean they can't handle warmer temperatures. A broody hen cannot cool off the entire farm for her chicks if the weather stays warm. Lots of broody hens raise chicks with daytime highs in the 90's Fahrenheit. They need some shade to take the chicks too if they get in really high temperatures but the chicks can handle temperatures much warmer than those you get by dropping the temperature 5 degrees a week.

I you are not able to turn it down it is not a problem as long as they aren't so hot they cook and they have a cool pace to go to.

Another misconception is that the chart for 5 degrees a week goes on forever. It doesn't. By 5 weeks of age most chicks are fully feathered and can handle much cooler temperatures than that chart shows. There is nothing wrong with providing then a place to go warm up if they want to, but give them a place they can cool off if they want to. Many people find that by 4 to 5 weeks they quit using the heat you provide.

Good luck and welcome to the adventure.

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

Yeah, you read that 5 degrees a week on here a lot but I ignore it. If you manage the 5 degrees a week thing you will be extremely safe as far as keeping them warm enough.

Where are you located so we can have an idea about your weather and temperatures? If you modify your profile that information is always available, like mine and Debbie's. That information comes in handy for a lot of questions.

I go about it differently. I use a heat lamp in my brooder in the coop to keep one area warm enough all of the time. Since it is outside, temperature swings can cause issues with maintaining a steady temperature. I can go from below freezing to the 70's Fahrenheit in a day. So my brooder is big enough and has sufficient ventilation that one end stays toasty in the coldest weather but the far end stays cool enough in the warmest conditions. Even if the warm end is too warm the chicks simply go to where they are comfortable.

When a broody hen raises them they spend a lot of time out running around, eating, drinking, and playing. When they get cold they go back under her to warm up. I use the same principle. Many people would be surprised to see how much time the chicks spend in the cooler portions of the brooder or in cold conditions with a broody.

If you are indoors with climate controlled AC or heat, this can be a lot easier. You don't have big temperature swings so providing a place warm enough with another spot cool enough should be pretty easy.


You are under a very common misconception. The chicks can handle cooler temperatures as they grow older but are in danger if it gets too cool too fast. Very true. That does not mean they can't handle warmer temperatures. A broody hen cannot cool off the entire farm for her chicks if the weather stays warm. Lots of broody hens raise chicks with daytime highs in the 90's Fahrenheit. They need some shade to take the chicks too if they get in really high temperatures but the chicks can handle temperatures much warmer than those you get by dropping the temperature 5 degrees a week.

I you are not able to turn it down it is not a problem as long as they aren't so hot they cook and they have a cool pace to go to.

Another misconception is that the chart for 5 degrees a week goes on forever. It doesn't. By 5 weeks of age most chicks are fully feathered and can handle much cooler temperatures than that chart shows. There is nothing wrong with providing then a place to go warm up if they want to, but give them a place they can cool off if they want to. Many people find that by 4 to 5 weeks they quit using the heat you provide.

Good luck and welcome to the adventure.

Thank you so much! This was so helpful. I live in Kentucky. I'll make sure to update my profile! So I'll just keep the heat lamp where it is, and if they want to go under it, they can! The brooder is in my garage connected to my house

 

[mcdze]

you can tell by how they act... arrange it in one end, and also make some kind of hanger to adjust height .. if theyre trying to hug it drop it diwn some ... if theyre on the opposite side of the brooder lift it higher ... in warm weather its doubtful theyll need heat more than 2 weeks, and ive killed a couple before keeping it too hot, theyll fall into a deep sleep under it and roast ..

 

[FirstTimeChikens]

you can tell by how they act... arrange it in one end, and also make some kind of hanger to adjust height .. if theyre trying to hug it drop it diwn some ... if theyre on the opposite side of the brooder lift it higher ... in warm weather its doubtful theyll need heat more than 2 weeks, and ive killed a couple before keeping it too hot, theyll fall into a deep sleep under it and roast ..

At night the seem more spaced out, but during the day...

 

[NatJ]

At night the seem more spaced out, but during the day...

I would give them a bigger brooder, so they can get farther away from the heat.

Or else I would replace that light bulb with one that puts out less heat. If that bulb is 250 watt, maybe try an incandescent 100 watt bulb. As long as it screws properly into the socket, it is safe to use a lower-wattage bulb, and it will put out less heat. But check labels, and do not bother trying the energy-efficient bulbs that are LED or fluorescent. They do not put out enough heat to be useful. "Efficient" in a light bulb is great for saving energy when you want light, but not good when you actually want the heat!

If you use a lower-wattage bulb, do check on the chicks during the cold part of the night, to see if they are still warm enough.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At night the seem more spaced out, but during the day...

They look too hot, they should be spaced more evenly through the area. The brooder is also too small to give them both a hotter and cooler area. I assume there's a top for the brooder as well? The chicks will jump out of that in a matter of days.

As far as the 5 degrees a week: as point of reference I brood outdoors with a heating pad, so the majority of the brooder is ambient outside temps (usually 40s to 60s). Only the heated area (heating pad) needs to stay at a higher temperature. The chicks are free to use it or not, and it really doesn't take more than a few days for them to show an obvious preference in being away from it.

 

[Huntmaster]

Mine attaches to the side of the brooder by a clamp but I'll see it I can do something similar!

It's on a small chain hooked on a hook,

I have heat lamps running all the time brooding something, they are safe if used correctly and a big fire hazard if not. Never trust the clamps that come with the lamps always secure with chain/wire or something nonflammable and very secure. You can raise or lower lamp to adjust temp or I also have plug in dimmer switches on a few of my brooders with lower wattage heat bulbs. Lamp secured low in one position with temp a little higher than needed in small enough area to cover all hatchlings, and a much cooler area on other end of brooder with dimmer on full. Then just adjust temp as needed with dimmer switch from then on, this one works for me for about 15$.