How do you control brooder temp?

[Toi-toi]

"Brooder temp reduce 5F each week"...
How do you do that??

Right now, I set up my brooder (guinea pig pan covered with cardboad) with 100wt light.
Keeping high is kinda easy, move brooder to bathroom and lock up. Right now brooder temp is 85F and house is 75F.
If I shut off light, it will drop to 75F easily but can't keep at 80F.
How do you manage to keep "not too hot, not too cold" temp??

 

[FenDruadin]

Hi Toi-toi,

I don't worry too much about keeping it exact. I make sure the babies can get under the lamp for heat, or away from it if they want to cool off. They will self-regulate. If they can't find a temp that's comfy, they'll let you know. If they're too hot, they'll stretch out their legs and pant. If they're too cold, they'll stand in a heap walking all over each other trying to get up closer to the lamp, and they'll be VERY LOUD.

Enjoy!

 

[Gonzo]

Its a pain! First off wheres your brooder at?
I have mine in the garage, and I have looped the cord through the rafters so I could raise it up, which lowers the temp. I also bought a plug in dimmer for the one I had in the house this winter.

 

[Toi-toi]

Mine is in the great room. That's only room doesn't have carpet.
Right now, I'm taking off/on the cardboard around cage to control temp.
Dimmer is pretty good idea! I didn't think about that.

I will try listen my chicks more. That's the easiest way to find out right temp.