Heat.

[TheOLDNewChick]

Okay, so my little one's are in a new brooder, an old rabbit hutch that's closed in with wood, with chicken wire opening about the top, that's what they're closed in at night, so I was wondering, with the temps at around 80 at night, do they still need a heat lamp? They're just about 2 weeks old.

 

[brooster]

look at the chickens if they are all huddled together like they are cold i would give them a 40 or 60 watt bulb if they are all spread out and happy i would just leave them. but with 80 degrees the should be fine maybe a 25 watt bulb for light though

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

It's a red heat bulb. I was told by a guy who's raised chickens for many years that don't use anything but a colored bulb, because the "natural" light early on makes them cannibalistic. I didn't think that was for sure, but I decided to be careful, anyway.

 

[cookinmom]

I agree. That young they will probably still need a light. Oh, I agree with the temp part too!

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Ok, I'm not completely disagreeing about the colored light..

Wait, I sort of am! Maybe it depends on the breeds? Temperaments? I just used a plain light bulb in my brooder, and no one ever picked. A farmer friend loaned us a lamp for the first batch, and it had a plain light bulb in it, too. Except for treat time, everyone is fairly docile with each other, and I haven't had any problems at all. Of course.. I try to run 'Peaceful Kingdom' here, so anybody pecking anyone else got a "hey, stop that!" in the first week. Hubby caught them chest-bumping yesterday morning and gave them quite a lecture about it (wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that "ladies don't act like that" speech!).

Anyway, my group is 5wks now, and their brooder box was quite large, so maybe that made a difference?

-Meghan

 

[panner123]

I don't like the heat lamp because of the fire danger. a 60 watt bulb works, you just have to move it as the chicks age. Normally chicks only peck or fight when there is not enough room. I take that back, put a handful of bugs in the cage with them and watch them go.

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

Here's pictures of what they're in.


http://i16.tinypic.com/6gafy87.jpg the shed the brooder is in, an open end.
http://i10.tinypic.com/536r14o.jpg a doorway on the opposite end.
http://i8.tinypic.com/5y0oak3.jpg
the brooder.
http://i8.tinypic.com/62e1bv9.jpg
Inside the brooder. It's about a 12.x.16 inch.
http://i13.tinypic.com/5x40v3l.jpg
the opening along the top. The top is also covered with chicken wire. It's supposed to be in the low to mid 70's every night this week.


Heat lamp too hot, or not?