Grrr my babies will be here in the morning. I still cant get my brooder over 90. I have 2, 100 watt bulbs going. The temp just seems to be hold very steady at 90. I am hoping that when I add the pine shavings it will act like insulation and help hold heat. I duct taped all the holes to also help hold the heat in. But then again it could be the cheap 94 cent thermometer.
Just aim both heat lamps at the same spot and let the chicks tell you if they are too cold or too hot. I assume they are being shipped? They'll be cold for the first few hours no matter how hot the lamp spot is, but if you could get the heat aimed at the same spot, it should be fine. Just make sure that they have a cooler area to walk into if they overheat.
Quote:Yeah they are being shipped. They are coming from Cackle, poor things have been in the mail all day today. I called the post office they said their trucks arrive at 6 then at 7, she said they will call as soon as they unload the truck.
Due to brooder design I cant safely lower the lights. I have cats so I have to keep a wire cage over the brooder to keep the chicks from being lunch. So to hang the light under the lid, it would put the lights like 6 inches from the brooder floor Sitting on top its right around a foot or so off the floor.
Watch the chicks, they will huddle together if they are too cold. Also, their fluffy little bodies will add a little heat as well. If you add a thick layer of bedding, you will decrease the distance to the lights and the temp will be higher at ground level. I bet they will be fine. Have fun with them!
My chicks were happy with 90 degrees. At first I had it closer to 95-100, they were happy at first and then some started panting. On the shipping slip that Ideal sends, they said it only needs to be 90. The chicks are now 9 days old and now they seem to like the temp around 85. I think they warm eachother up too. Just watch them and check on them. They will all huddle under the lamp if it is too cold and mine peck at the sides of the box like crazy, pant and try to get as far away as they can get from the light when it gets to hot.
Had the same issue. Dont stress. Just do what the chicks are showing you. I found mine to be most comfortable at 3 or 4 degrees cooler than the suggested temp for each weeks rating.
Now that I have the chicks I think I have the heat figured out. There is like five huddled in a ball under the light, some are running around, some are eating, they are pretty much everywhere in the brooder. Its neat to watch, I check on them and they are all in a ball under the light, just when I think its too cold they all scatter and do other things.