New brooder too cold?

[arpolis]

Thank you all for the comments. I really appreciate it. I used some cardboard on the back and right side of the pen and my thermometer is reading a steady 93*F in the middle of where the light is pointing and the chicks are roaming around freely. When it gets colder tonight I will add some cardboard to the front and left side leaving the top open and see how they react. If they act like they are cold as you all have described I can add another lamp. I have no light bulbs but do have 60W ceramic heat lamps. Hope that will help.

 

[aart]

Thank you all for the comments. I really appreciate it. I used some cardboard on the back and right side of the pen and my thermometer is reading a steady 93*F in the middle of where the light is pointing and the chicks are roaming around freely. When it gets colder tonight I will add some cardboard to the front and left side leaving the top open and see how they react. If they act like they are cold as you all have described I can add another lamp. I have no light bulbs but do have 60W ceramic heat lamps. Hope that will help.

I tried one of those ceramic heat emitter's, wasn't worth the money. It just doesn't radiate a large enough 'circle of warmth'.

I MacGyver'd a heat 'plate' that is working great...no lights, 22 watts of power.

 

[arpolis]

I tried one of those ceramic heat emitter's, wasn't worth the money. It just doesn't radiate a large enough 'circle of warmth'.

I MacGyver'd a heat 'plate' that is working great...no lights, 22 watts of power.

Ha I have half that heat plate idea already in the brooder. I have a 12"x12" flex watt pad in there with a towel over it. The idea was for it to heat the substrate a bit and with a rheostat keep it at around 90*F. But with others betting against it I unplugged it. I can easily make the feet like you did and put that in there if I need to then. I'll just do that if it really looks like they need it.

 

[debid]

It's good for a newbie to use a thermometer until they learn the behaviors, it's a great learning tool and offers peace of mind for the uninitiated.

Every spring, someone cooks their chicks. They heat a Rubbermaid storage tote or cardboard box with a 250W lamp and the thermometer said 95 when they first set it up or it's 95 where they put the thermometer (not under the light) so they figure the chicks getting lethargic are "sleepy" until it's too late. They fail to consider that the plastic/cardboard holds the heat in and it continues to accumulate after they've removed the thermometer. Or, they think 95 means the whole space so they heat until it's 95 at the coolest.

It only needs to be warm in an area big enough for all of the chicks to sleep in a raft formation. A cool space is just as important as a warm one so they can regulate their body temp.

Cold chicks are loud and pile up trying to get closer to the heat source. It's pretty obvious and even a newbie would notice. Overheating is far more likely. The symptoms are more subtle and, I believe, more likely to be disregarded based on a thermometer reading.

 

[lazy gardener]

Beware the dimmers. I've used 2, and find that they are very difficult to control. Better to control by varying your wattage and distance. I'm just about to toss both of my dimmers in the trash. They are especially dangerous with a closed system, like a Rubbermaid tub. Good luck with your shipment. I agree that poultry Nutri-Drench is a wonderful product, and now won't brood chicks without having it available.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I've never used a thermometer in a brooder. Like others have said, if the chicks pile up I lower the light and if they scatter out I raise the light. When they are in a loose little circle under the light I say all is well.

I've got ten 15 day old chicks outside in a 3' x 5' wire cage. They have a small piece of cardboard to stand on under a 40 watt bulb that's about 8" from the cage floor. The other night they were ok after dark but I checked om them about midnight cause we were having a cold spell and the temp was 49*. I noticed they were restless & trying to pile up so I lowered the light about an inch and they all set down and went to sleep.

 

[arpolis]

The chicks are doing well it seems. Out of the 4 I had shipped there was one that passed away over night the first night. Very sad I went to Atwoods and picked up two new sisters. During the day the heat lamp seems fine. I put in a 60 watt bulb pointing down from the top of the cage as well and that seems to keep all the chicks happy at night. Thank you all for your help.

 

[mithious]

Thank you all for the comments. I really appreciate it. I used some cardboard on the back and right side of the pen and my thermometer is reading a steady 93*F in the middle of where the light is pointing and the chicks are roaming around freely. When it gets colder tonight I will add some cardboard to the front and left side leaving the top open and see how they react. If they act like they are cold as you all have described I can add another lamp. I have no light bulbs but do have 60W ceramic heat lamps. Hope that will help.

Sounds like you are doing great. Good job! I do brood in my cabin, but heat is off. I have a 250 red on both brooders. Just remember, that around 3am to 6-7 am, is the coldest part of they day. The temps will drop. My birds wanted more heat during those times, so the bigger a brooder you can have/make helps as they can move out of the heat instead of you getting up that first week, atleast, to make them happy

and comfortable.

I made one out of one piece OSB 4' by 4' and one piece of 2" by 2" by 8 feet. Cut in four equal pieces, use short thin nail with a bit of a head, and a tarp under it. I also have the tops with hardware cloth, as I have a Bengal kittie that has too strong of a hunting instinct, to train it out of her. But found some good deals on 4' by 5' sheets

That way the brooder and chicks do most of the work for ya!
Best wishes!

 

[mithious]

Sounds like you are doing great. Good job! I do brood in my cabin, but heat is off. I have a 250 red on both brooders. Just remember, that around 3am to 6-7 am, is the coldest part of they day. The temps will drop. My birds wanted more heat during those times, so the bigger a brooder you can have/make helps as they can move out of the heat instead of you getting up that first week, atleast, to make them happy

and comfortable.

I made one out of one piece OSB 4' by 4' and one piece of 2" by 2" by 8 feet. Cut in four equal pieces, use short thin nail with a bit of a head, and a tarp under it. I also have the tops with hardware cloth, as I have a Bengal kittie that has too strong of a hunting instinct, to train it out of her. But found some good deals on 4' by 5' sheets

That way the brooder and chicks do most of the work for ya!
Best wishes!

That should read, on OSB board 4' by 8', 4 equal pieces. That doesn't read right. But I have two and they work great and cheap to build. What, $12.00 to $15.00 bucks if you need the nails too. That makes a 4' by 4' brooder, with 2' high sides. Get's ye a ways down the road, before having to put them in their coop. More time to easily get to know them too

ahh what we do for our chickens