Raising Chicks Without a Heat Lamp(Or a Broody)?

[AccentOnHakes]

How can it be done? I saw an article about it on the web, but it needs a subscription(and money). Here's the link if any of you guys paid for the site...
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113456852.html

 

[triggfamily5]

http://www.plamondon.com/pasture_hover.html

 

[triggfamily5]

oops, accidently hit the back button and double posted.... ignore this

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Quote:
Unfortunately, I'm doing it in the living room. And I'm not sure 5 chicks can heat that thing....I am able to get a heat lamp, but I'd rather not.

 

[Egg_newton]

Why are you against a heat lamp? Just curious

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Quote:
I'm not....I'd just rather be able to do it without one. Fire hazard, raising it every week....yeah. I am able to get one from a friend, though. I just have to figure out how/where to hang it.

 

[txchickie]

I didn't read the article, but I've done it with shipped chicks in July. The day they arrived it was 105+ outside and they were outside from the moment they arrived at the post office. It was getting down to about 80 at night, but they had an insulated house with lots of deep shavings and they were fine.

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Quote:
I live in the Bay Area, so temps don't get that high....highest we ever get is around 95, but I'm getting them before the middle of summer.

 

[rnrterp]

You don't have to have a heat lamp. We are using a standard 100 watt bulb, and the chicks we got on wednesday are doing great.

 

[ChickenMama18]

We're also in the bay area..east bay We have a heat lamp outside for the babies because two of them are a lot younger and are not fully feathered. At night they go in the insulated coop with a light that has some heat. Just wanted to ease your mind a little about the fire hazard thing. We haven't had any issues and it's been this way for a long time. On the other hand iif you are getting them mid summer (unless you're on the coast) it will be nice and warm out and as long as they have an insulted home with lots of shavings they should be fine.