Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Okay Ralphie - I will look at those options. Thanx

Of course, if you do buy one of those heaters you are gypping the Star News out of a news story when your place burns down..

 

[KlopKlop]

I never thought those were the best idea myself.  One of those things where it looks good on paper, but doesn't cover all situations of brooding.  With something like I had set up, you could also use a thermostat on the heat lamp so that it will turn on and off if it gets too hot.  Something I may be doing when I brood the early chicks and use an enclosed unit for them. 

You are correct about 'on paper'...
If the outside temps were fairly steady they would work very well once you get them set up and adjusted. I imagine it is on par with getting a cheap incubator to stay regulated in a room that has bad temp swings.

 

[KlopKlop]

I used 2 heat lamps in my brooder. It was made of those sections I make. It was 16 ft long and 6 ft wide.  I the heat lamps hanging a tad low, so that right under the bulb was around 102-105.  The birds all spread out in a circle around it where they were happy.  Very seldom was there one right under the bulb.  I also used very little bedding/chips under them so the concrete would absorb the heat and buffer the cooler nights some.  I never did have to start the furnace

If you start them in March, how long will you have to brood them for? There probably will still be snow on the ground

 

[bear7298]

Same here Ham Lake Mn

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Welcome @bear7298 to the Minnesota Thread. Tell us about your chickens, coop, etc. Post some pics --even better yet.

Well I survived the cities and suburbia. The Apple Festival was at Parley Lake Winery and Dreandorff Apple orchard just west of Victoria...I believe.....(I think I have the spelling right on the apple orchard). Anyways our hosts were fantastic and for me to go back out into the country while dreading a trip to the city made it "better" for me. Beautiful Timbers inside a taken care of barn, hanging lights, overturned wine barrels, Pumpkins, gourds, strawbales, mums of every color... & Lots of people there on that beautiful day. By my 4th glass of wine everything was pretty tolerable.
We walked the vineyard and I plucked a couple Marquette grapes that were quite delicious and picked a very expensive 1/4 peck of Honeycrisp apples. DD was in her element with the little artisans selling string bracelets and feeding apples that were on the ground to horses.

Then Yesterday morning we toured million dollar homes in the "parade of homes" thingy. Gorgeous homes. Inspirational...but glad I live where I live and know who I am. And I'm not that. Anyways.... 24 hours there and we were back on the road to God's Country.

DH and DS did well taking care of chickens for me. All are accounted for. Water in one fount...another one was dry. Feed in both feeders....so okay job.

We still have not turned on the heat in the house. Today without the sun...might be the day we do it. As I doubt our solar heating will happen today through the big living room windows. Shoot. I love cheap fall and spring electric bills. dang it.

KlopKlop...thank you for your efforts on taking care of the kittens. All babies deserve a chance at least. They will become valuable barn cats to you one day. I'm sure of it.

Coffee 1st my heart goes out to your recovering poochie. He looks so precious in that onesie. How inconvenient and careless that that spike was there to do the damage in the first place. Send the construction company the vet bill maybe...? LOL. I'd probably try with a nice note.

Ralphie I can see you in your state of preparedness not watching the Cx's any more. I wish I could sneak down and do something for you...bring you a six pack of Mikes...or whatever. or a bottle of whiskey.

 

[KlopKlop]

Sounds like a good time BC.

I'm on the same page as you with the fancy homes. The first thought that goes through my head is A) how can you keep that big of a house clean B) how can you heat the darn thing!
I am very frugal and would rather live in a shack I built myself than a mansion like that.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

@Bogtown Chick , where do you live?

Welcome to the MN thread and BYC, @bear7298 . I live around the same area as you. Love it.

 

[bear7298]

Ham Lake

 

[Wild Child]

Alright I'm posting pictures right now. Sorry they are a little fuzzy but the puppies were quite wiggly on their photo shoot booth aka the washer covers with a sheet

 

[Wild Child]

This is Dewy, he is a Newfie type who would be content as a farm watch dog. He is very alert and pays attention to everything. He is perfectly content with a pat on the head and a bone to chew on.