Hello there

[2babychicks]

I have two chickens I recently bought from a feed store. They are (hopefully) two hens, one Buff Orpington and one Ameracauna. I was told they were two days old when I got them but one seems to be feathering a bit faster than the other but not drastically. My question is this. I keep them in brood box that is solid except for a small chicken wire window. I have a 250 watt infrared bulb hanging already at max distance in the coop. Day temps are hot so I don't use a light but nights are not getting very cold either.. About 65. With the light on it's still 92 to 96 degrees at midnight. Too hot? They stay far away from it, no where near the light. I can't find a 150 infrared. Only white brooder bulbs :/ One girl has feathers on her wings with puffs still on her tail and head and one is still just puffy with feathers just starting. 2.5 weeks

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center

Wow you need to make some air holes or you are going to have an easy bake oven going on there .....




Inside my brooder do you see the air holes in the side and in the summer I remove the top and put a wire top on .....



My EE chicks that hatched out Thursday and yes they are already
growing some feathers as EE chicks do develop very fast and if fed
correctly will start producing egg's around week 13 small but still an
egg ....




Good luck with your chicks

gander007

 

[drumstick diva]

You can raise the brooder lamp little by little till you find a distance they are comfortable with.

If chicks are all in a pile, they are too cold. If they are panting and laying far apart they are too warm. It's always good to have the light over half of the brooder, so they can go to the cool side if needed. I think they aren't getting enough air - do you have a solid top on the brooder? They really need a secure wire top for good air exchange, and to keep them from flying out.

 

[3riverschick]

I have two chickens I recently bought from a feed store. They are (hopefully) two hens, one Buff Orpington and one Ameracauna. I was told they were two days old when I got them but one seems to be feathering a bit faster than the other but not drastically. My question is this. I keep them in brood box that is solid except for a small chicken wire window. I have a 250 watt infrared bulb hanging already at max distance in the coop. Day temps are hit so I don't use a light but night rant getting very cold either.. About 65. With the light it's still 92 to 96 degrees at midnight. Too hot? They stay far away from it, no where near the light. I can't find a 150 infrared. Only white brooder bulbs

One girl has feathers on her wings with puffs still on her tail and head and one is still just puffy with feathers just starting. 2.5 weeks

Hi 2babychicks and

,
These birds are 2.5 weeks old now? If so, 92-96 is way too hot. I am using 250's on my 2 day old chicks and having the same overheating problem even tho the thermometer says it is 90 degrees, the chicks still are at the far end of the brooder like it is too hot. I think I may switch to a 60 watt incandescent like I did last year. At 2.5 weeks a 75 white incandescent should do fine for your chicks.
Here ya go. Here's an article from the learning Center.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens
excerpt: "Temperature

The brooder can be heated by using a light bulb with a reflector, available at any hardware store. A 100-watt bulb is usually fine, though some people use an actual heat lamp. The temperature should be 90-95 degrees for the first week in the warmest part of the brooder and should be reduced by around 5 degrees each week thereafter, until the chicks have their feathers (5-8 weeks old). A thermometer in the brooder is helpful, but you can tell if the temperature is right by how the chicks behave. If they are panting and/or huddling in corners farthest from the light, they are too hot. If they huddle together in a ball under the light, they are too cold. You can adjust the distance of the light (or change the wattage of the bulb) until it's right. Make sure you always cooler spots in the brooder where the chicks can cool down if they feel the need to."

Best,
Karen in western PA

 

[2babychicks]

Thank you !! That's what my gut was telling me ! I will get an incandescent tomorrow for the babes. I don't want to have roast chicken :/

 

[3riverschick]

Thank you !! That's what my gut was telling me ! I will get an incandescent tomorrow for the babes. I don't want to have roast chicken

Honestly, I think I am going to follow your lead. I am just not sanguine with these 250 reds. Esp. after poultry legend Walt Leonard
said today he only uses 60 watts. But then he is in nothern California so a bit warmer than I. Sill I've been thinking about it all day.
I don't like I need to keep adjusting the heat during the day and night with the 250 reds. I think this is too much. I am going to the 100's too.
Best,
Karen

 

[2babychicks]

My hubs just dug up a 75 watt incandescent from the garage. Waiting for the light to cool off then am going to change it. It's 1230 am and I just checked on my chickies. It's 95 in there :/

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Definitely try to find a lower wattage bulb. Red if you can find it. White can be too exciting and disturb sleeping patterns. And yes, I would remove the top and just use a screen. You need good heat and oxygen exchange in the brooder.

Enjoy your new babies!! And welcome to our flock!

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Most petstores will have various watt red or ceramic heat bulbs in their reptile section also (or you can find them online).