heat lamps

[keinanna]

How high should the heat lamp be above the chicks? The enclosure they are in is about 18 inches high and I have the lamp about 12 inches above that is that too high?

 

[Judy]

You need to determine that by the temperature in the brooder at floor level.

 

[LayALilEgg 4Me]

Hey, the heat lamp should have a gaurd on so the chicks cant burn themselves. Its not so much height, its more temperature!

Place the lamp at a height were the temp in the brooder is at 95 degrees. (Im presuming they are young chicks)

Then reduce the heat by five degrees every week (usually approx 2inch higher)

Do this untill the chicks are at room temperature then put them in a grower shed and let them adjust before putting them outside (whenn they are fully feathered).

If its quite cold outside they may then need supplemental heat at first then they shud b fine.

Hope this helps.

 

[waddles99]

What i do is i just test it out. If it is too hot, then the chicks will be crowded at the farthest corners of the brooder. If it is too cold, the chicks will be crowded underneath the heat lamp. If it is just right, then the chicks will be evenly distributed around the brooder and they will be happily moving around. Just experiment with different heights. Too hot, move it up a couple inches. Too cold, move it closer a few inches.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

Trying to maintain a nice even 95F through the whole brooder with a heat lamp is near imposible. There are always going to be hot spots and cool spots so do this: Place a thermometer directly underneath the heat lamp and adjust the lamp up and down until it reads 100F. The chicks will adjust themselves in if they need the heat and out to the edges if they need less. As they get older you can then decrease this by 5 degrees per week.

 

[keinanna]

Thank you for all the advice. The chicks are around 9-10 days old.

We have put a thermometer into the brooder and it's a little warmer than 95 degrees under the heat lamp.

Their brooder is made out of an old dresser so it's about 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. I am hoping it will work for them.

We did not intend on getting so many chicks but we were at a local livestock auction today and the group of 21 chicks was very hard to resist. So I now have 21 barred rock chicks. These are my first chickens I've ever had I've read so much but I'm sure I will need to keep coming back for advice.

I was going to try to use the heating pad cave idea but I think I have far too many chicks for that.

We got them a feeder and a chick waterer and a big bag of medicated chick crumble. They have an infared heat lamp and are living in my sun room.

Two of them had pasty bum and I've gently cleaned them up dried them and returned them to their brooder.

Is there anything else I should be doing or should know?

 

[waddles99]

Thank you for all the advice. The chicks are around 9-10 days old.

We have put a thermometer into the brooder and it's a little warmer than 95 degrees under the heat lamp.

Their brooder is made out of an old dresser so it's about 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. I am hoping it will work for them.

We did not intend on getting so many chicks but we were at a local livestock auction today and the group of 21 chicks was very hard to resist. So I now have 21 barred rock chicks. These are my first chickens I've ever had I've read so much but I'm sure I will need to keep coming back for advice.

I was going to try to use the heating pad cave idea but I think I have far too many chicks for that.

We got them a feeder and a chick waterer and a big bag of medicated chick crumble. They have an infared heat lamp and are living in my sun room.

Two of them had pasty bum and I've gently cleaned them up dried them and returned them to their brooder.

Is there anything else I should be doing or should know?

Putting a bit of apple cider vinegar in their water helps stop pasty butt. Not too much though. A couple drops in one of those small waterers should be enough.

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

sounds like you have covered all the important things,, chicks are rather easy to care for if they are healthy,, good luck

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have 15 chicks under a heating pad that is 12" x 15" and there is plenty room to spare, but they are only 3 days old right now. The old dresser is a great idea, it will help to prevent drafts too. You will want a warm spot and a cooler area, don't heat the entire brooder to 95 degrees. They will find the area with the temperature they like and hang out there. I have a couple of chicks that hang out at the edges of the heating pad, and a couple that sit on top during the day.
Do you have a top for it?

 

[keinanna]

I don't have a top for it yet. I was thinking once they get a bit bigger I will probably need to put some chick wire or something over it to keep them inside. Would they need a blanket or something draped over part of it to keep them extra warm?

Here is a picture of the setup I have for them. We kept the trim on the top to make it easier to add anything on top later on if needed.