outside brooder question

[19Dawn76]

We live in Arkansas and the day temps have been running about 80 night temps 60's. We built a brooder to go outside, the top, back and sides are solid wood and the bottom and front is hardware cloth. What watt bulb do you think we should use to keep the chicks warm enough? Should it be a heat lamp bulb? the brooder is 4x5. Thanks.

 

[wanda047]

Dawn,
I moved one of my wire brooders to the big hen house today with a heat lamp. I have checked on them several times and they appear to be fine. I just walked out there (it's 10:30 PM) and they're snuggled down in their hay, listening to country music, and sleeping.

I was worried because of the non-stop rain

and cooler temps at night, but had to get part of the chicks out of the house. I still have 19 in the house and more hatching tonight! The ones I moved outside to the hen house are only 3 weeks old. I was worried about moving them, but hubby insists they'll be fine.

They are completely sheltered from the elements and drafts.

I'm in the process of building them a coop (have it nearly complete), but felt they'd be safe in the hen house for now, as long as the older chickens couldn't get to them. The older chickens seem totally intrigued with them. One of my roosters is roosted next to their cage watching their every move.

 

[19Dawn76]

Hey Wanda!!!

What watt bulb do you have out there? It's probably colder up there than it is down here. We started building this brooder cause I had given up on finding adult chickens. Yesterday a very nice man we met in the AR forum offered to GIVE us some adult chickens. I was thinking we could use them for incubators. I still want some BO's so I found a guy that sells the chicks for 2$ each. How s the family?

 

[wanda047]

Gee, I'm not sure what watt it is... I just know it's a red heat lamp bulb that I bought at the local farm and feed supply. The low tonight is only supposed to be 66 and then up in the 80's tomorrow. I watch the forecast really close and always prepare a head of time where the chicks are concerned. If I thought it was too cool, I'd be bringing them back in (regardless of what dh said!)

They're starting to feather really nicely. The MF is quite feathered, though the cochins are not as much. Regardless, I figure they're just as warm out there as in here, with the air and fans running periodically.

Glad you finally found some BO. Mine are growing so BIG!! It's unbelieveable. I'm sorta glad I kept the Production Reds.

The rooster is beautiful! I've decided that I'm going to separate them into their own pen. One roo... 3 hens. They are beautiful birds.

Family is great. Little Aydan's finger is still healing. He has one very "pink" finger. ha ha All the skin that they didn't remove, has peeled off the finger, leaving very pink "new" skin. Since he's dark complexed... it looks really funny. We're just glad he didn't lose the whole finger. Losing skin and nail was traumatic enough!

Hope you and yours are fine! Good luck with the chickens and keep me posted. Let's get together one day!!