Struggling with heat

[ams3651]

i had a board next to my rubbermaid tote I used for a brooder. I had the clamp heat lamp and simply adjusted it up and down to where they were happy with it but always kept in in just one end so they could get away if they needed to. Some slept right under some further away. It was my first try but was 8 for 8 when all was said and done.

 

[sm0kin]

i would say when first setting up use a thermometer. my first test run i had my lamp too close and the thermometer pegged out at 125 degrees. watched it for a few hours before i got any chickens making sure not to set it ablaze with the lamp

 

[tdgill]

I used a camera tripod...it was easy to raise and lower the lamp - which I did ALOT. Our house temps fluctuate alot, so it was near impossible to get a consistant temperature in the brooder.

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

After reading all this I sort of wonder just how hard it is for some people to brood chicks. I have never had a hard time keeping chicks happy. And I dont even have a thermometer in the brooder. If the chicks get cool they gather under the light, if they get hot they walk away from it. Maybe Its just me but why does some people make it so hard?

 

[kycrawler]

I have 250 in the corner of the kitchen right now , Baby chicks are not that hard to take care of . I use home made brooder boxes 18 inches deep 2x6 and the other is 2x4 i put a heat lamp on each end and then leave them alone they find a comfortable spot and regulate their own heat . At about 2 weeks old i move them to my pole barn then at about a month they are sold or moved to the coop

 

[tdgill]

oh, its not that my chicks aren't happy. They're spoiled rotten! ha ha. It IS NEW to some of us, and just like new parents, we are learning alot the first time. I am sure we will look back and wonder how we made it so worrisome. I think its been doting on them more than anything. Just having something to do with them. But thanks for the words of advice. We are supposed to be enjoying them and having fun.

I'd rather see people paying too much attention to them than not enough. Attentive.

AND (edit)
my 8 weeks and 10 weeks are out in the 20x12 shed right now and its windy and damp feeling and I am finding that my shed is not as draft free as I thought, I have two heat lamps - well one 250W and one 75W, they have had some morning mash, snuggled up on my lap and chest till I had to come inside and I am debating bringing them (6) all inside again! Gonna check the weather first. I KNOW I AM NUTS.

 

[Oceanseve]

I second just keep an eye on them to figure out how the light needs to be adjusted. I tried a thermometer the first week it maxed out at 120 and burst (which they were totally comfortable with btw) so I decided to forget it and just watch the chicks. When they start huddling I lower the light, if they are hugging the edge I raise it.