someone tell me its ok to move them to the garage brooder-PICS inc...

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

Really now...there 2 wks old and I think they'll appreciate the room but i'm sooo scared! I'll miss them in the good ole laundry room where i can see/hear them all day!

Maybe I should give it a few more days??? LOL

Q though---this is our makeshift bigger brooder--we use a 250 red heat bulb--you think that's ok for this brooder? Should it sit on top of the wire??? HOW do you decrease the temp down with a brooder like this???? They actually like it around 85 now so how in the world do i make it that temp easily? Thanks for any help/suggestions!

 

[RAWR]

oh wow
thats nice
i like it
it should be ok, and get a light dimmer

 

[Uzuri]

Move 'em out! No reason they can't be in the garage from the start

For controlling the light temperature you have two options a) hang the light (securely! Multiple backup hangers!) and move it up to cool things down or b) find yourself a dimmer rated for at least 250 watts and put it in line on your lamp so you can turn it down that way (there's also c) use smaller wattage bulbs. Hard to find in red sometimes, though).

If you sit it on top of the wire be sure to secure it. Baby chicks have some wild parties and the last thing you want is for it to bounce off the wire onto something flammable.

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

K--thanks so much! That's what I was worried about-the security too...our one inside is built and hung on 2x4's hard to explain without a pics but CANNOT move..SO, guess were in for some more rigging! LOl...

Are the dimmers easy to install/figure out? My hubby's a great builder but not sure on the electric scheme of things?!

 

[Uzuri]

My Dad's an electrician, so he always gets the ones that go into wall boxes -- which sure doesn't help you out any! But I do believe they make ones the just kinda plug into the wall, almost like a timer. I've never needed one, though so I wouldn't know where to look for them -- everyone should be sure to get an electrician in the household

 

[PunkinPeep]

Also, as far as regulating temperature, make sure to put the lamp on one end or the other, so the chicks can regulate their own temperature by getting away from the light if they get to warm.

And by all means, move them to the garage .... as soon as YOU're ready.

 

[Shay1327]

I have a similar setup for my brooder in the garage. I hung my light on an adjustable ratchet strap to make it easy to raise. I also use a blanket in the beginning to keep the temp a little warmer.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I have my day old chicks out in our garage and it's been very cool outside...getting down to 18 degrees one night. They were all fine and I just set the heat lamp right on top of the screen and leave it there the entire time. Now the one day old bantams I put a little lower becuase it was so cold and they are so tiny but will raise it to about 25 inches after a week or so. My LF chicks were in a cardboard brooder from day one in the garage and had the heat lamp sitting on top of the wire at 25 inches the whole time. Never lost one chick. They are now almost three weeks old. I do cover half of the top with an old blanket to hold in the heat.

They will be totally fine out in the garage

Go ahead and make the move.

 

[felidaet]

I agree... move them to the garage. Mine are never welcome anywhere in the house. They will be placed in the garage brooder immediately when I bring them home.

I suggest that you test the temperature of the brooder for a couple of hours before you move the chicks to it. I did this yesterday with my new brooder that I built on Saturday. Put the bedding in it and turn the heat lamp. You need to allow a couple of hours for the wood to heat up. You can adjust the temperature by covering portions of the brooder with wood or a blanket. My brooder is much larger than I will need the first couple of weeks. It is 8" x 3". I put temporary solid wood divider in it. For the first week or two they will only be using about 3' x 3'. All of the top is covered with wood except one small section where the heat lamp is. After two hours of heating yesterday it stabilized at 96 degrees under the heat lamp. The coolest parts were about 85 degrees. I am using a 250 watt red heat lamp. After they chicks are about two week old I plan to remove the divider. As they get older I will gradually remove pieces of the wood cover and replace they with poultry wire. This will lower the temperature each week.

 

[homeschoolmama]

I got a clamp light w/ a dimmer built in at Petsmart for like $17. It is only rated to 150watt though. It is in the reptile section. Chicks get to the feed store tommorrow morning, finally- Can't wait to use my new lamp! The babies are going right into the garage.