plastic bin brooder question

[Honora]

Hi all,

I am setting up my brooder this week cause I am getting 3 chicks on Saturday. I am using a plastic bin and a heat lamp. My question is, where do I put the heat lamp? If I clip it to the side will it melt the plastic? Do I need to get a board or something to lay over the top and clip the heat lamp to that? Never had chicks before, thanks!

 

[RouttyChicks]

I am using a 50 gallon tub from Walmart and i just clip it on the end next to the handle where the plastic is most rigid. I use a heat lamp but never leave it on when i am not home. Just seems to me it would be to easy for it to tip and melt the plastic. When i am not home i just put in a regular bulb and clip it onto their metal feeder. It is more stable hooked on the metal feeder than on the tub. Only thing is the heat lamp would be way to hot down low on the feeder so i just use a regular bulb.

 

[PSJ]

i just clip it on the side also.

 

[dheltzel]

I cut a piece of plastic water pipe big enough to lay across the tub, then stick it through the clamp-on part of the lamp so it hangs from the pipe.

I also use a desktop lamp dimmer to dim the lamp to the point where they tend to sleep right at the outer edge of the circle of light. Saves electricity and I can just dial back the heat as they grow.

 

[Farmer Viola]

if you clip it, please secure it using rope or some other secondary method of securing the lamp. if it falls into the brooder, it can kill chicks and start a fire in the bedding. safety first!

 

[Farmer Viola]

if it is too hot indoors with the red lamp, you can also change it out for a white bulb. i know some folks use that to decrease temp after 1-3 weeks old.

 

[Mother Hen to 6]

I had a small window screen and laid it across the top then sit the light on it... works great

Here is a pic over look the messy ducks lol..

 

[Honora]

Thanks for the ideas! We'll see what my husband can manage to get together tomorrow. 2 more days! So excited!

 

[Quickster]

We stuck a piece of board through the handle and clipped the lamp to it. Let me see if I can find a picture. And then let me see if I can figure out how to post the picture...

 

[Quickster]