Just finished brooder!

[Morgan7782]

Went to the feed store today, and got a waterer, red 250 watt heat light, shavings, chick starter, and hardware cloth! My brooder is set up and ready for it's renters! YAY! The feed store gets chickies in tomorrow, and they open at 8:30am. I will be in the parking lot at 8am. lol! I have the heat lamp WELL secured too, and luckily there is always somebody in this house, so god forbid a fire DID start ::knocks wood:: it won't get very far. But I am pretty sure all will be fine and dandy. Will be getting two EE and two BR chickies, fingers crossed for pullets!

I am so excited.. I wish it were 8am NOW. A couple of last minute questions:

What age should they be put outside in a playpen (and warm sunshine) to explore safely?

Any last minute tips?

How deep should their bedding be?

Thanks!

Edited to add:

Should I turn on the heat light to warm up now? Or wait until about 3 hours before I pick them up? Yes I will be up at 5am

 

[crazyhen]

I would set up the heat light and check the temp after an hour or so. To make sure of the height needed to keep the area right under the light at 98. I do not use a 250 unless they are in an unheated drafty space, it can cook them. How large is your bator. That can make a difference too. Mine is 20 inches wide by 5 feet long. I use two lights to begin with ,one 100 on one end and a 40 on the other. Then next week I just use the 100. My brooder is inside the house. I know you are so excited. I have 8 in the brooder now that are two weeks old. They keep me guessing as to their sex as some of them were hatched by my broody orp. The games they play are so funny too. One will grab a bit of wood shaving and run with it. All the others will chase. I have a small piece of cut wood in there and they like to play king of the mtn. Also they have started the football chest bump. After about 2 weeks they will start to give off chick dust a sticky dust. I lay the cheap furnace filters on top of the broody to catch some of it until I can make a place out in the coop that will be warm enough. You are getting your chicks at good time. They will be nice and warm real soon. gloria Jean

PS The bedding should be something soft and not slippery, but not wood chips until they learn what food is. I use the puppy trainning pads from Kmart. After about a week I use newspaper covered by wood chips. Also I put marbles in their waterer to keep them from drowning in it.

 

[joe17]

250 watt bulb is fine. Really any bulb could fry the chicks but you just need to raise it up a little. Everythinf is pefect!! Good luck

 

[lizzy06019]

Aww... I know how exciting this time is! I feel like it was yesterday. Our chicks are now 4 weeks old and are already in their coop

(which is a whole new group of worries) I would test the light now with a therm. Once our chicks came, it was hard to get an accurate reading since they liked to peck at it, sleep on top of it or spread shavings on top of it. And definitely put some marbles or 3/4 inch stone in your waterer so the chicks don't drown. One last suggestion is to charge the batteries to your camera... you'll be taking LOTS of pictures! (And you better share them with us

) Have a great time tomorrow picking out your chickies!!!!!!

 

[chickpip]

EEEEK! I know how your feeling.... I was like that while I was waiting for them to hatch Yes, charge your camera you will be taking LOTS of pics! Yes, put marbles in the waterer if it isn't a quail waterer to keep them from drowning. GOOD LUCK & post pics?

 

[Morgan7782]

I will do the marbles in the water, thanks for the tips! I will also adjust the heat light if needed, right now I have it a good distance up because their first brooder will not be huge. They will be moved to a draft free unheated room off the house after a week or two, depending how they are doing. With the heat light out there as well. I will definately be posting pictures tomorrow morning! I told the lady at the feed store I would see her "bright and early" lol