Just need a little clarification please...

[new_to_chickens]

I know it probably gets old reading the same questions over and over and over again, but please bear with me!

I was reading the post about brooder lights getting too hot. My chicks have a brooder lamp with the red 250 watt bulb. The thermometer says around 90 degrees but the little ones are panting when they get near it. (The brooder is an old dog crate...probably a large to extra large one...so there is plenty of room. Oh and there are 10 chicks about five days old).

So my question is...can I just put a regular 100 watt bulb in there tonight until I can grab a red one tomorrow? I am worried about the electricity as much as the chickens...don't want to start any fires now...that really wouldn't help cool the chicks off now would it?

I really appreciate your patience and help...

 

[crazyhen]

I lay a thermometer on the floor under the light and put another at the furtherest point away from it. Rarely in the house do you ever need the 250 watt light. I used 110 then 100 then right on down as they got older. My chicks never liked the 90 degree area so I lowered the temp to 86 and they were fine. If your chicks are away from the center and not panting but wont go there then lower the temp just a bit. Raise your lamp higher tonight and see if that works. If they stay right under the center of the light they are cold. If they stay as far away as possible they are hot. Also you may not have enough ventilation for them. What do you have them in? At first I had a plastic container with just the top cut out and the air quality i found out was terrible. If you put your nose where their little heads are you will see what I mean. So later I had another plastic cut to about 5 inches tall with a wire cage over it and it worked fine. The ends and sides let in sufficient air without drafts in the house. I hope this helps Jean

 

[new_to_chickens]

Well, I changed the bulb but all I have is the plain white one...they seem to be doing better but now they are picking on each other!! Can't wait to get to Walmart tomorrow for the red bulbs!!

Thanks everyone...

 

[gritsar]

Just wanted to say welcome to BYC!
Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's what its all about. We all learn something with each new post.

You'll be surprised at the difference a red light makes. It's like valium for chicks.

 

[new_to_chickens]

To answer some follow up questions, I think the ventilation is okay...they are in a dog crate that is open (not the plastic kind, but the wire one).

I don't really have any place to hang the 250 watt heat lamp higher at this point which is what I would like to do. They just didn't seem comfortable so I changed the bulb to the white one...they got them up and moving!! They are still picking on each other, but at this point it is better than laying there panting.

They did seem to be okay even with the red heat lamp...they moved around, ate okay, drank okay. I put a towel in the corner and they were cuddled up on that. They were in the corner where the heat lamp is...they would just pant an awful lot.

At this point I am not sure what is better...use the red heat lamp or let them pick on one another with the white 100 watt bulb (by the way I am not sure that one is heating the brooder up well enough...)

Okay...time to take a deep breath and relax...they are doing fine and will be fine until tomorrow morning