**Light issues.....!** PICS ADDED

[Tripp16]

Quote:
The one I had in I just checked was 75 watt bulb. So I put one of lamps bulbs in which wasnt very high wattage. It was 11 watts. Is that to low? They were all huddled in the corner poor things!

Im worried about this!

 

[Tripp16]

Quote:
Ok I will try an get some when Im out today. Did you see what my last post said??

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Put a thermometer in the brooder and monitor the temp and watch the chicks. The 11 watts may be fine if the 75 was giving you 100 degrees. But make sure it is an incandescent bulb not the energy saving kind because those don't generate heat (that's why they are energy efficient).

If the chicks are scattered around and not piling on top of each other chirping loudly, they're fine. If they seem lethargic and not making sound they're way too hot and you need to do something quick.

 

[mstricer]

They should be fine, if they are huddled maybe you just scared them with changing the bulb. he brooder can be heated by using a light bulb with a reflector, available at any hardware store. A 100-watt bulb is usually fine, though some people use an actual heat lamp. The temperature should be 90-100 degrees for the first week or so, then can be reduced by 5 degrees each week thereafter, until the chicks have their feathers (5-8 weeks old). A thermometer in the brooder is helpful, but you can tell if the temperature is right by how the chicks behave. If they are panting and/or huddling in corners farthest from the light, they are too hot. If they huddle together in a ball under the light, they are too cold. You can adjust the distance of the light (or change the wattage of the bulb) until it's right.
Hope this helps. If you have temps that are 65 to 70 that will help warm things up.

 

[JodyJo]

I used the cardboard brooder set up when I started, had the light suspended above on a wire, just moved the wire up and down, according to temp on thermometer...(A must have)

if you can give them a larger area, they will move away from the heat when they are hot and move back to it when they get cold...

Let us know what happens and what works for you.

 

[suzeqf]

When I got my chicks back in March I used a large cardboard box as my brooder and put the the light at one end and at 2 weeks old I lowered the temp to around 85 and added a roost and at 4 weeks i change the bulb to a 75 watt security light bulb and that's what they used until they were fully feathered then i put a regular 100 watt light bulb in and only turned it on at night now they are 7-8 months old and the only one that has a light is my momma and her baby and it's just a reg light bulb

 

[Tracyree]

You can get low wattage red bulbs from amazon.

 

[VI KING RANCH]

I lost 6 cornish cross before I realozed my dad had plugged in there light again while I was away and they cooked.

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:
Ok would like a house light bulb work??

Sorry new to the outdoor brooding thing....

Yes. You need to lower the temp or give them more room to get out of the temp. We rigged ours on a lamp pole stand and used a lite that clamped to it so we could move it up and down. Yes a regular house hold light will due like the 100 or 60 watt. I put a outside temp gauge in the brooder so I knew for sure how hot. 85* at 1 week 80* at 2 weeks 75 at 3 weeks and 70 at 4 weeks until you do not need it any longer. Good luck and enjoy your babies. Very cute

 

[Tripp16]

Ok first off Thank you all so much for all your helpful responses! ( I LOVE this site soo much! explains why Im on it alllll the time!

)

Anyways I went to the store and bought a 60 watt bulb and colored it red with a marker!

It worked!! The temp is now 88.9 to 90 degrees in there. I may move the lamp up a bit.....the problem the person who made it for me screwed the lamp in. They do seem cooler but I think they could
be cooler.....

Is this still to hot??