Hey, new member.

[rollachickens]

Hello everyone. My husband and I bought our first baby chickens yesterday. Each are one to seven days old. One is a Rhode Island red, one is a Buffed Oprington, one is a Barred Rock, and the other is a Black Australorp. The heat bulb we are using is a 125 watt. We read that leaving this bulb in at night will cause stress and we should use a red heat bulb. The red heat bulb I purchased is a 250 watt. Is that too strong? Can we use only lift it farther up away from their brooder? Thank you.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Welcome to BYC I felt the red one was way to strong in my area, and it was too late once I had them to upsize my bathtub brooder first time around. If you can find a heating pad that doesn't auto shutoff after 2-4 hours, you can rig it so they can come into contact with it as needed and save on that electric bill.

@KikisGirls @penny1960 @ronott1 Can probably give you better specifics on how to set up a heat pad brooder. For me I'd gorilla glue the thing into the inside of a 5 gallon barrel/bucket(1 and done).

 

[drumstick diva]

You can use the bulb just lift it higher away from the brooder floor. Test it with a thermometer and be sure it is securely held in place at least two different ways. You don't want it falling. Always allow room in the brooder away from the lamp- so if chicks are too hot, they can more elsewhere.

 

[Kessel23]

Red 250 watt will work fine, hang it higher above the brooder and check the temp for adjustments. Make sure your brooder is big enough to have a heated side and a not heated side, the chicks will move sides to regulate their temp. If the birds are all clumped up under the lamp then they are cold, move it closer, if the birds are all wedged up against the walls as far away from the lamp then they are hot, move it higher up.

 

[Plip]

Welcome to BYC! Great to have you here.

A red 250 watt bulb is exactly what I use. In fact, I just took one off of the latest batch of quail after about 5 weeks gradually lifting up since they were born.

By the way, excellent choice on your birds, every one of them!

 

[007Sean]

HowdyHappy to have you join the family. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

 

[Latestarter]

Greetings and welcome to BYC! So glad you joined us. Seems your bulb question has been addressed. There's a wealth of additional info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home!

Oh, if you haven't done so already, PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. Old folks like me will never remember from this thread. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes. Thanks! Hope you enjoy the site!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - great that you have joined us and congrats on your littles. These links may be interesting:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens.47691/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/hatching-eggs-raising-chickens.22/

Any questions that you may have regarding your chicks will be best posted here - http://www.backyardchickens.com/f/11/raising-baby-chicks

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hello everyone. My husband and I bought our first baby chickens yesterday. Each are one to seven days old. One is a Rhode Island red, one is a Buffed Oprington, one is a Barred Rock, and the other is a Black Australorp. The heat bulb we are using is a 125 watt. We read that leaving this bulb in at night will cause stress and we should use a red heat bulb. The red heat bulb I purchased is a 250 watt. Is that too strong? Can we use only lift it farther up away from their brooder? Thank you.

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under rollachickens Welcome and Congratulations!

It is a good thing you have already been given some great advice cos I only have experience with hatches under a broody hen in a climate where they are more at risk of frying then freezing

Anyways, I just wanted to wish you all the best. I do hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share Pictures and Stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out