needing help

[Patrick 14]

This may be dumb to ask but can u use something like a desk lamp to put over your brooder I'm not a fan of heat lamps and have chicks on the way needing some new ideas any will help. Thank you

 

[cravenchx]

I'm gonna say yes

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The key is the temperature. Also fire safety.

I use 100 watt bulbs or 150 watt bulbs instead of the 250 watts but I add as many light bulbs as needed to get the temperature where it needs to be.

You will need the temps 90-95 for the first week of life and decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered even on head around 6 weeks.

It is fine for the temp under the light to be a little hotter but they need to be able to get away from the heat into the other side of the brooder. If the air temp is chilly in your brooder room I'd go with a little warmer right under the light than what I mentioned. But they can easily die from overheating just as from cold.

Always hang lights at least two ways not including a clamp. I like to use metal wire to secure lights.

So yes you can use any lamp you want as long as the temp is perfect and it won't cause a fire. Do check your temperatures- it is worth the money to invest in a thermometer.

http://www.shellspoultry.com/raising-chicks.php
This link has some pics if you scroll down- don't clamp them to the sides without securing them another way - think flying chickens. It is much safer to put metal wire over like the last photo, and then put lamps above the fencing so they won't fall into the brooder. Chicks start flying out much sooner than you think!

 

[red horse ranch]

This may be dumb to ask but can u use something like a desk lamp to put over your brooder I'm not a fan of heat lamps and have chicks on the way needing some new ideas any will help. Thank you

I've always kept my chicks in the house for a few weeks after hatching. When I first started raising chicks I used a gooseneck lamp with a 40 watt bulb in a cardboard box. Just make sure the lamp is secured where they can't knock it over. If you have the lamp on top of the brooder make sure enough heat is on the floor to be at 95 degrees. You may need a bigger bulb if the lamp is too far from the chicks. And warm it up for several hours or overnight before you get the chicks so you can check the floor temperature .

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Ditto. It is all about the temp. You can watch their behavior and tell if the are comfortable. If the huddle under the lamp they are cold, if the are ion the far corners, they are too warm. Good luck.