we are having 30 degree changes in the temp (45-78 one day and 54 to 81 the next) here and my coop/brooder is outside. I work all day and will not be able to constantly monitor the temp in the brooder. My two choices as I see it are, put a heat lamp at one end of the coop/brooder (6'x4') and trust that it will provide enough heat and as the outside temp rises the chicks will move to an appropriate area and not get to hot or cold. the other is to get a thermostatically controlled plug and plug the heat lamp into it and believe it will maintain the temp +/- 5degrees. What have others done.
Mine have always been in the house where the temp is pretty constant or varies by only a few degrees. I have only put the babies out at 7 weeks or older. How old are the babies?
I use a thermostat and the one I use keeps the temp within a 1/2 degree of the set temp. I use this one: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idProduct=HD03203&child=HD03301. I plug it into a ceramic reptile heater like this one: http://www.strictlypetsupplies.com/_015561220484-Hagen-Exo-Terra-Ceramic-Heat-Wave-Lamp It still relies on the individual chicks to decide for themselves whether or not they should be under the heater or away from it based on individual needs, but they all have done fine with this setup. It will keep it from getting way too hot or cold, but when I check it it is within that 1/2 a degree. My new chicks are 2 weeks old and we are having those large temp swings as well, (we had a 33 to 78 temp one day this week) and it has been colder here in central Arkansas than it is for you in south Texas. Mine are doing fine with this setup, so did my last batch. Honestly though if I had a chick that was too stupid to get under a heating source when it was too cold, well... I hope it dies so it won't pass the stupid gene on to it's offspring. Being a good Jarhead, I am not much for stupid genes be it in people or animals... but I digress. Sorry I had a little too much Sake tonight at the Sushi place, so I am being brutally honest and less political correct than usual. You know how it is! I hope you find a solution that works mi amigo! Happy halloween!
I have my brooder out in my chicken house also I have 2 heat lamps ! stays on all the time with a 100 watt bulb The other is on the same wall with the same size bulb but it has a wafer thermostat hooked to it And it works great If 1 burns out the other will take over and if the temp drops then the wafer takes over I lost some Rosecombs due to a bulb burning out and had to come up with something This was it and have been very pleased with this setup ever since Havent lost one since
Put a heat lamp in. They will get as close or far as they want. I have a wireless digital thermometer in mine to check the temp.
they will be day or two old when I get them, awaiting shipment on thursday/friday of this week. I have a red 250watt heat lamp bulb and will hang about 20" from the rafters to heat the corner area. I will be checking tonight the temp that provides at floor level. I will get the thermostat and connect to the lamp tomorrow and see how that does. thanks for the info.
I have a thermostat. I've raised 3 brooders full of chicks without one, but now that I have one, I like it. So really either way works. They will get close to the light if they are cold and further away if they are hot. Just make sure it is ventilated.
