New Chicks Coming tomorrow. Can I brood in my new coop?

[EggStatic46]

Looks like 250w

 

[EggStatic46]

Yeah, it is 250w. Any suggestions for the interim? I may not be able to get out this evening to get a lower wattage

 

[EggStatic46]

Yeah, it is 250w. Any suggestions for the interim? I may not be able to get out this evening to get a lower wattage

 

[Annalog]

Do you have a regular incandescent light bulb, not the new compact fluorescent style? Unplug the lamp, let it cool, and then put the regular light bulb in. (Make sure it is NOT one of the teflon coated unbreakable ones. Those kill birds.) While it will be too much light, it may let you get the temperature right until you can get a lower wattage heat lamp and a timer.

In the meantime, you can unplug and plug in the lamp every time the temperature gets out of range (88°F - 99°F on the floor directly under the light should be OK). Watch the chicks; they will show you if they are too hot or cold.

Also, if you have a second waterer, use it. The chicks can cool off a bit by drinking cool, not cold, water. They can warm up by drinking warm, not hot, water. The lamp will heat the water so changing the warmest waterer to have cool tap water every few hours can help.

 

[EggStatic46]

Thanks for the tips!
I just got them back home with them. Now that they are getting acclimated to their new home I can run out and get a 175w heat bulb. I just hope THAT one isn't too hot as well. They seem to be eating and investigating their new home.

 

[Annalog]

They are adorable!

If those are nesting boxes at the side, you might want to put litter/shavings there as well before the chicks add their little contributions.

 

[EggStatic46]

I actually did put shavings in there....lol
I saw them being nosy and looking at the nesting area so I went ahead and put added shavings.....then they got BOLD and jumped in...lol
It is currently like 80-85 deg in there and they seem comfortable. I put the heat lamp on for only 5 minutes and when I went to check they couldn't get far enough away from the lamp if they tried so I turned it back off.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

They are adorable!

If those are nesting boxes at the side, you might want to put litter/shavings there as well before the chicks add their little contributions.

Alternatively, it can be a good idea to block access to the nesting boxes until the birds are at the point of lay - allowing access now makes the association of the boxes as a place to sleep, hang out, etc and that will lead to nest boxes full of poop which, down the road, means eggs covered in poop. By not allowing access to the boxes until the time they are actually needed you build the association of them being just for laying/nesting which will significantly reduce the amount of waste the winds up deposited in them.

 

[Annalog]

Alternatively, it can be a good idea to block access to the nesting boxes until the birds are at the point of lay -  allowing access now makes the association of the boxes as a place to sleep, hang out, etc and that will lead to nest boxes full of poop which, down the road, means eggs covered in poop.  By not allowing access to the boxes until the time they are actually needed you build the association of them being just for laying/nesting which will significantly reduce the amount of waste the winds up deposited in them.

Very true. But I would recommend getting the temperature situation under control first and block access in a couple days.

 

[EggStatic46]

I did read that somewhere....thanks for the heads up!
I just went out and got a 125w bulb. Hopefully this will get the heat to comfortable level.