Safely Heating CX Chicks

[NatJ]

Probably need to reduce the square footage inside the tractor for the brooding stage.

Once they have been in the tractor for about three days, I am sure they will be fine with the full square footage.

https://www.hoffmanhatchery.com/brooding.html
Here is one hatchery's instructions for brooding chicks. It recommends a 250 watt heat lamp and a circle of cardboard 4 to 5 feet across for up to 100 chicks. Most other hatcheries have similar suggestions.

You can use a space 4 to 5 feet across for smaller numbers of chicks too.

@debid @FunClucks @NatJ

Okay, last question, hopefully. How many lamps is recommended per birds? This answer might be different with their rapid growth rate, so could you answer for a 3–4-week-old stage?

I was just typing an answer that includes that.

I would probably buy two heat lamps. That gives you a spare if anything happens to one. It also gives you the option to use both if needed.

Once you have the chicks, watch how they behave. With 25 of them, they should have no trouble staying warm under one heat lamp. As they grow, if you see that they all want to be under the lamp but cannot fit in the warm area, either raise the lamp (makes the warm area bigger but not as warm), or add a second heat lamp near the first (so the two warm areas almost touch.)

I would expect one heat lamp to be enough. You want enough warm area that all the chicks can sleep there at once, and beyond that you want as much cool area as possible. Think of chicks with a broody hen: they sleep warmly under her feathers, but she does not heat all the space in the coop. The chicks come out to run around during the daytime, and pop underneath the hen when they are cold and need to warm up. Once they are warm, out they go again. The chicks can use the warm area under a heat lamp the same way, as a place to sleep and to warm up but not where they hang out all day.

 

[FunClucks]

All of that makes sense. Thankful for the advice! I'm struggling to come up with a makeshift brooder now. The idea of having it in my shop was going to be cheap and efficient. With a bulb, I don't think I'm willing to risk it with all of my other tools and equipment... I live in town with a small backyard.

Here's how I do it with eggers (see picture). Crate is in my garage. Heat lamp is wired in place, and I usually keep the guard in place also (took it off to clean it here). Couple inches of shavings go in bottom, food and water opposite the heat lamp. Hang the water and food as the chicks get taller. Sometimes I put less food and water so it's not as heavy, or I don't hang the food. I also will elevate the food on a casserole dish or stand.

For CX, I attached two 4 ft long by 32" wide by 42" tall (XXL) dog crates together with zip ties after removing the doors on the ends to make an 8 ft by 32" wide area. I made a ramp for them to cross over the middle with shelf liner on it for traction. Water on one end, food on the other, heat in various locations in the middle. Raised 25 CX to 4 weeks fine. Wish I'd taken a picture. It will get your garage all dusty with chicken dander - I covered things with tarps, and clean with a wet rag and a particulate respirator when done.

I know folks who have used Watermelon boxes (cardboard) from Walmart on top of a tarp to raise chicks - I did it this way for a few batches of eggers and it worked fine. Cover the holes with cardboard, change shavings often, hardware cloth or chicken wire for lid. Dispose of after you're done. I also know of folks who've used galvanized steel stock tanks or small ponds. Some have raised them in tents with a heat plate, but I don't think I'd recommend that for large batches of CX.

All you really need is a roof and a way to cut the wind. Three wall shed with slanted roof works fine, with a windbreak and good predator protection for the brooder.