help, no heat lamp for week and a half old chicks :-(

[jlt045]

We got 3 baby chicks 2 days ago and when we realized we forgot to buy a heat lamp, the feed store was out, the first time they ever have been :-(. They wont have any more until around Wednesday or Thursday. Will the babies be ok in a really warm bathroom until then? They have been fine for the 2 days at least. To give an idea of our setup, our house is old, so it doesn't have central A/C, only window units in the bedrooms and the living room. The back bathroom and kitchen have none, and get horribly hot in the summer. That is the bathroom we have them in, and I have been periodically running the hot water to steam the bathroom up a little. They are eating and drinking, although the smaller one never seems to have as full of a crop as the others, so Ive been feeding him/her first in the mornings. Temperature outside is between 74 degrees and 82, and It doesn't feel as if the bathroom is any cooler than outside is. Ive already asked around and no one has a heat lamp, everyone I know has only adult chickens. They aren't cheeping excessively unless I go in there, then they cheep a good 30 minutes after, but usually only if I go in there or make a noise. Otherwise they just quietly peep to themselves. Any opinions??

 

[MisfitMarie]

We got 3 baby chicks 2 days ago and when we realized we forgot to buy a heat lamp, the feed store was out, the first time they ever have been :-(. They wont have any more until around Wednesday or Thursday. Will the babies be ok in a really warm bathroom until then? They have been fine for the 2 days at least. To give an idea of our setup, our house is old, so it doesn't have central A/C, only window units in the bedrooms and the living room. The back bathroom and kitchen have none, and get horribly hot in the summer. That is the bathroom we have them in, and I have been periodically running the hot water to steam the bathroom up a little. They are eating and drinking, although the smaller one never seems to have as full of a crop as the others, so Ive been feeding him/her first in the mornings. Temperature outside is between 74 degrees and 82, and It doesn't feel as if the bathroom is any cooler than outside is. Ive already asked around and no one has a heat lamp, everyone I know has only adult chickens. They aren't cheeping excessively unless I go in there, then they cheep a good 30 minutes after, but usually only if I go in there or make a noise. Otherwise they just quietly peep to themselves. Any opinions??

When my power goes out, I fill up pots and bottles with near-boiling water before wrapping the bottles in towels. It provides heat for the babies until the power comes back on. They will curl up to it.

Serve them hot chick mash and give them lots of TLC. Make sure the room stays warm and get a heat lamp asap.

 

[keesmom]

Were they out of the bulbs or the clamp light fixture? You don't have to use a 250 watt red bulb, a 100 watt is fine. You can get the clamp light at any hardware store.

 

[azygous]

Good grief! You don't need a 250 watt or a 150 watt "heat" bulb! If you have a 100 watt incandescent light bulb in a lamp or light fixture, go rob that socket and find a clamp-on reading light to stick it in for the brooder! It will throw out plenty of heat for your chicks in an average heated room in your home.

Or just peruse the thread below "Mama heating pad" and grab a heating pad and make a chick cave. It's even better than a heat bulb, and the chicks will thrive with no added stress from being subjected to light around the clock.

 

[MrsBachbach]

We got 3 baby chicks 2 days ago and when we realized we forgot to buy a heat lamp, the feed store was out, the first time they ever have been :-(.  They wont have any more until around Wednesday or Thursday. Will the babies be ok in a really warm bathroom until then? They have been fine for the 2 days at least. To give an idea of our setup, our house is old, so it doesn't have central A/C, only window units in the bedrooms and the living room. The back bathroom and kitchen have none, and get horribly hot in the summer. That is the bathroom we have them in, and I have been periodically running the hot water to steam the bathroom up a little. They are eating and drinking, although the smaller one never seems to have as full of a crop as the others, so Ive been feeding him/her first in the mornings. Temperature outside is between 74 degrees and 82, and It doesn't feel as if the bathroom is any cooler than outside is.  Ive already asked around and no one has a heat lamp, everyone I know has only adult chickens. They aren't cheeping excessively unless I go in there, then they cheep a good 30 minutes after, but usually only if I go in there or make a noise. Otherwise they just quietly peep to themselves. Any opinions??

You really don't neet a heat lamp like what is commonly sold. For three baby chicks, just get a medium sized box (enclosed sides are important) and if you have any kind of desk lamp with a cover over the bulb, stick that lamp over the side of the box. Even a regular incandescent (the old style bulb not the new 7 year bulbs) 60 watt bulb will do. I had to make an emergency incubator last year for a few eggs and just put them in a styrofoam box and set a desk style lamp with a forty watt bulb over that small box and the temp got really warm over those eggs. Of course the lamp was only eight inches above the eggs, but you get the picture. A 60, 75 or 100 watt bulb would help those chicks depending on how large of an area you are warming or how cold the room gets. Just try for 90 degrees below the bulb and at least they have an area they can get under to warm themselves. The 250 watt bulbs are really for warming either larger areas or hanging them higher over the chicks.

 

[kyexotics]

Hang a desk lamp or bedside table lamp with a 60w bulb in brooder, you'll be fine! Grab one and you'll see, plenty of heat there!