I am incubating my eggs. I have hatched eggs before (long time ago) for educational purposes. This time it is also for educational purposes (teaching my kids) and also to raise some egg-laying chickens for our family (six - one for each kid). Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions on a heat lamp for the baby chicks? I have a 10 gallon aquarium or a box to use for the brooder. Thanks!
If your keeping them in the house a heatlamp with just a 75 watt or 100 watt bulb works great...even 60 watt with summer temps...reg. houselight bulb...
The aquarium won't be big enough to hold them after about a week. You might want to start with something bigger. Crowding leads to picking issues even in chicks. I have large brooders. I use a 250 watt red heat lamp. Welcome to BYC and enjoy your chicks.
I would use a 75 watt infared lightbulb. Make sure that you have a thermometer in there to make sure it doesnt get too hot. Also, make sure that the floor is not slippery.
How big should it be? I have 12 eggs in the incubator. I guess not all of them will hatch! We are keeping six females (kids are already thinking up possible names) and returning the roos and any extras! I cannot wait! Michele
I sold some of my eggs to a bee farmer and when I went over to check on them they were in a big plastic storage bin that was almost the size- width and not quite the length of the bathtub he had it sitting in. And that was for a dozen chicks. They all made it! Yeah! He had 4 roos out of the dozen. And a shop light with a clamp with the 250 watt heat lamp and thermometer to monitor heat. That only lasted so long, they started jumping out of the bath tub eventually. He was modifying an area in his barn for them but they were growing faster then he was building and with 150 hives and it being honey season...he was a busy man. They hatched out on Easter. So I've been told you should make their spot ready for 3 days and check the temp. at diff. times of the day/night so you can adjust accordinly. Say in the day, I had mine outside, I only needed 2 lamps on but at night I needed to turn all 6 on. But I had 46 chicks and a big space to heat. But you see what I mean. Then I needed to raise my lamps higher as the day temp. soared until I didn't need any more lamps on at all. If they are huddled--too cold. If they are at one side--draft. If they are scattered about--some sleeping, drinking, eating--all is happy in chick land. me, g
You need a thermometer, put it on the side of whatever U are using next to the bottom where the chicks will be, then adjust the lamps height to get 95* on the thermometer. 20 chicks or less I get by with a 40 watt.