Help! New chick coming tomorrow. How high should my red light be?

[tgrlily]

Here's the small brooder:

& from the top

The big brooder is in the garage... started off as a cardboard box before my husband got ahold of it

It has a 250 watt heat bulb on top.

 

[PortageGirl]

You've got it right now.. 90 or 95 DIRECTLY under the light. If it's too warm, they'll move to the edges where it's 80 or even 70-ish, if THATs too warm, they'll move out to the edges of the box where it's even cooler. They need that room to get out away from the warmth.

As I said on another brooder thread, think about what a mamma hen does for her chicks, she gives them a very warm place to get warm in, up against her downy self, but they venture out in the cool air to eat, drink, peck and scratch... then come back again for warmth.

After the first week, they're too big to get as close as they once did and so stay less warm, and on and on. She provides less heat, they become more active and independant. That's why you raise it weekly, and let it all get cooler and cooler.