re: New Chicks and Light

[DanJ]

We have 5 one-week old chicks, and we are using a 100 watt incandescent bulb for warmth.

They seem to be doing well, temperature wise.

Since the light is on 24 hours a day for warmth, at some point do I have to get them used to the dark so they're ready to move to the coop in a month or so? I've read about getting them used to the dark but not sure how to do it while keeping them warm.

How and when should I do that?
Do I need to switch to a red light for warmth instead?

We turn the room light off in the evening for what it's worth.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I keep mine under lights until they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. You start temps around 95 degrees for the first week and then you decrease that by 5 degrees each week after and if your temps outside or decent you can turn the lights off on them as soon as they are fully feathered out. I wouldn't worry to much about getting them use to sleeping in the dark, one you put them outside they figure that out very quickly. Good luck!

 

[mcsfarms]

I am a new egg so I am not sure I can help. We have 5 chicks that are between 1 and 3.5 weeks old. At first I kept the light on 24/7 for about the first two weeks. I purchased a warming bulb that does not give out any light - just heat. Now I turn off the light at night and turn on the heat lamp. In the morning we turn off the heat lamp and turn on the light. They seem to be pretty comfortable in the brooder (I am using a large wardrobe moving box). I have the lamp sitting on a pile of books and every few days I add another book to raise the lamp up. If they get cold they snuggle together, but not so close to the heat lamp now.
I guess if we are worried we are doing the right things, looking up answers and asking questions - good luck

 

[armadamork]

I use a red light 24/4 for heat and slowly raise it for 4 weeks. After that I only use the light at night if needed.

 

[armadamork]

that would be 24/7. I have no idea what 24/4 is. I really need to proofread before I hit submit.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
LOL...24/4 would be 24 hours for 4 days!

I need to proof~read better myself, do it all the time.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'd use a red lamp if any pecking issues arise. That said, chicks this time of year don't require a whole bunch of heat as ambient temperatures are rising everywhere in North America. By week 5, and it being June, they won't want any heat at all. You'll have to acclimate them to darkness at night, but I've never had an issue with that. It's dark. They sleep. They are practically blind in the dark, so they won't be up moving around.

 

[eellsworth]

I was wondering this same thing. My plan right now is to use a regular 75-watt bulb for the first 2-3 weeks, then as the temps warm up here, just turn it off.

 

[Kelly V]

I have a related question. My chicks are 6 days old and getting along with each other, but DH is worried about the pecking thing. So I bought a 100w red outdoor floodlight. Someone gave us a 250w red heat lamp, but it was way too hot for the size of our brooder. This floodlight is the only red bulb I could find besides a 25w "party bulb" which is not strong enough. For the past week I've just had a 60w lightbulb for heat, which worked fine.

So the question is, am I okay with the floodlight? Should I keep looking for a heat lamp bulb? Should I just switch back to the regular bulb? And what is this heat bulb that doesn't produce light that you're referring to? I haven't seen that at TSC.

Thanks.

 

[CupOJoe42]

Just saw a Purina video on YouTube that said this for lights:

1-2 days: 24 hrs of light
2-3 weeks: 18 hrs of light
3+ weeks thru growth period: 16 hrs of light

They started with the red heat lamp, but ended with two 40 watt lights.