re:heat for three week old chicks

[h2oratt]

My chicks are now three weeks old. My heat light just burned out. I am in CA the temp is holding at 70 in my house. How critical is it that I go buy an new bulb. They are in my house in a draft free large box. I have 14. Could I just put a heating pad under the box?

 

[MyTMo]

I use a heating pad to warm my chicks. I create a cave with wire, cover it with a towel, put the heating pad on top then another towel. And cover it with straw. If you search heating pad the thread I got it from will come up. When they are young I use a pad under them as well. It works great. I would image your chicks are old enough where one hearing pad would work for you.
Good luck!

 

[MrsBachbach]

My chicks are now three weeks old. My heat light just burned out. I am in CA the temp is holding at 70 in my house. How critical is it that I go buy an new bulb. They are in my house in a draft free large box. I have 14. Could I just put a heating pad under the box?

A regular 60 or 75 watt light bulb will work. Has to be the old style bulb, not the new energy efficient ones. You may have to hang it a little lower for them to feel heat, assuming you had the big 250 watt before.

 

[h2oratt]

Thank you

 

[MrsBachbach]

Thank you

Just watch them. If they are all huddled underneath it, it's not warm enough. Either bump up your wattage or lower it more if possible. Anyway, I used regular light bulbs for a few years before I switched to the red ones.

 

[curious chickee]

My one week olds are outside and with the cooler temps today it is about 70 under their heat lamp, they are staying under the lamp but spread out no huddling. Since we have such nice weather usually, I turn off the heat lamp around 3-4 weeks with them outside (highs 70-80 & lows 45-55). and they all do well. They just cuddle at night time.