How Does This Brooding Set-up Look?

[3KillerBs]

I think I'm ready to buy the chicks tomorrow. The little coop is 4'x4' and I'm getting 6 or 8 depending on if they're sexed or straight run (the goal is 4 hens with 2 for a friend -- I'll eat any cockerels). Bedding is paper towels over large flake pine shavings.

I had to go down to a 40 watt regular incandescent bulb in the heat lamp but the current setup is holding between 90 and 95 at floor level on a 73-75 degree day. Nights are forecast to be in the low 70's for the next week. I *could* drop the lamp a little lower, but the 100 watt night reptile bulb I'd bought was creating 105 as high as I felt comfortable raising the lamp. I know white isn't optimal, but I figured white light all night was better than over-cooked chicks.

Nest boxes are blocked:

I'm prepared with bricks and blocks to raise the feeder and waterer up as necessary:

Have I forgotten anything?

 

[3KillerBs]

We have them!

 

[3KillerBs]

Good luck with your cute little guys!!

Cute little gals, I hope.

I was amazed to see them all eating and drinking within 10 minutes of unboxing. I'd been worried about them finding the food and water and about them getting to the heat.

They scarfed down food and water then, lead by a bold California White, headed out to discover the limits of their world.

 

[3KillerBs]

I've always done 85-90 personally, but use I their behaviors to set the final height.

I've been checking them every couple hours and adjusting the light up and down (I'm up for the bathroom in the middle of the night so it's no trouble.

I think that the brooder plates must be much easier to manage with 20-30 degree ambient temperature swings. I put one on my Amazon Christmas list.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use a white light. It causes no problems that I see.

You may want confine the chicks tighter for a day or two depending on how old they are by putting in a short circle or wire just to keep them closer to the heat. I guess watch and see how mobile they are, and make that judgment. Probably chicks from a feed store are old enough not to worry though.

Otherwise your set up looks good to me. Is there a secondary vent for some cross ventilation?

 

[3KillerBs]

We gave it a little extra protection from midday sun.

It's in a temporary position until the house is placed on the property. Then we'll figure out where to put it permanently.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks like it should be fine. Plenty of space for them to grow up in.

 

[3KillerBs]

The 60 watt bulb is now a bit too warm (I've lifted it), but they have piled into the corner near the lamp instead of one of the cooler corners.

I suppose they know what they want -- they've been all over eating, drinking, and ganging up on another spider. Now it's naptime.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How much grit should I offer 8 chicks? A teaspoon? A tablespoon? A quarter cup? I don't want them filling up on rocks.

"A sprinkle" - I never measure, just sprinkle a bit like you're very lightly salting food just before eating.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Anything over 90 degrees can cause heat exhaustion. They cannot regulate their own body temperature until around 2 weeks. I would not run a heat lamp at temperatures over 85. Sorry you lost one.