Worked my tail off today!! Update and another silly question...

[mmtillman]

Worked on the critter guard around the bottom of coop today...I dug 2, 8 foot long trenches, a foot deep and buried my wire fencing that I attached to bottom of coop.

I learned how to do this from pictures on BYC!

No critters will be livin under our coop!!

Will finish the rest of it this week.
It'll take a couple of days for my hands to quit hurting after today!!

We have an 8x8 coop...so this chore will take another day or 2 !! Atleast it is half done!!! And the ground was fairly soft to dig in.

Also worked on the brooder box, got the new safer light shade, to replace the old one we were scared to use. Found a chain to hang it . Got the feeders and waterers, bought a bag of chick starter.....etc...


I do have a question tho

....HUbby flat refused to let me hang a 250w red bulb over a cardboard box out in the coop when the chicks arrive in April.
He said that is WAY toooo much heat to be near a cardboard box and he wouldnt sleep nights knowing it was there.

So he insisted I get the white 125w bulb.

I argued

that I wanted a RED LIGHT for my chicks,

but his fear of a fire trumped me....so I gave in

My question is .....is there such a thing as a 125w RED brooder light??? We looked EVERYWHERE

and all the RED ones were 250w!!!

So I gave up and kept the white light, which alot of people say is not as good as a red light, prevents stress and pecking in the chicks.
What if I took a red magic marker and painted my white light red?? Would that hurt the bulb ? Would it work like the red bulbs for the chicks?? Just wondered.....Thanks !

Now we are ready for the chicks to arrive in April 2!!

Cant wait!!!!

 

[Omran]

I think Tractor supply carry this red lights

 

[joanc]

You'll be very glad that you did all that work to keep the critters out. We did the same thing around our 2 coops and the 2 large pens (actually dh did all of the digging, I helped put in the wire).

We got our 125 watt heat lamps at Menards. I've seen them at Home Depot too. I would think that Lowe's carries them too.

I have used both white and red and found that the red really works better to lessen the picking. I don't know if you could get a paint that won't either burn off or give off toxic fumes. Little chickies are quite sensitive to strong smells.

Good luck with your little ones coming!

 

[meezermom]

I can sympathize!
I'm scared of fire, and want the best for my peeps....So I used the white bulbs & made sure the chix have LOTS of room, keep any pasty bums clean, plenty of clean food & water (like every time I turn around it seems!).
I also go outside & catch bugs to bring in for them to chase & eat

As of yet - 2 seasons - I haven't had issues with picking.
Good luck! And enjoy a relaxing evening after all that work

 

[mmtillman]

Quote:
Yes...I agree painting the white lights with red marker is probally not a good idea....

LOL !!
I searched Lowes and couldnt find a red bulb that was 125w. Hubby said they must not make them, so I gave up looking.
I will try Home Depot next ....or one of the hardware stores around here might have one. What wattage were your red lights? I know DH was just concerned about a fire hazard with the 250w being so much hotter. Thanks for the encouragment on the wire critter guard. Will finish it before my chickies arrive!

 

[mmtillman]

Quote:
Thanks for all the advice about lots of room and all you do for your chicks to keep them happy!
....I also went out and caught bugs and dug worms for my flock we had before!!
I had no idea how fast a grasshopper would fly/hop!!! LOL...spent an hour

and only had one lone hopper in my jar....worms are much more my speed!! LOL

 

[orchidchick]

I used one of the ceramic bulbs for the chicks (like for reptiles) when they were little. They don't throw any light, but the risk for fire is less when set up properly. I live in a warm climate, tho. Downside is they are pretty pricey.

Orchidchick

 

[agirly4chicks]

When I got my chicks last week I bought a brooder from the feed & seed store and they provided me with a 100w light buld. It is working fine and they were on the opposite side of the brooder last night and this morning so I put a 75w in before I left for work. My chicks are in out guest bedroom so the heater from the house is providing some heat also. We normally keep it on 70 so the house heater is not providing that much heat but more than if they were outside.

I hope this helps somewhat!

Angie

 

[patandchickens]

They DO make 100 and 125 w red bulbs, realio trulio, you just have to keep looking

Sometimes you can get them from farm supply places, other times they will be with other colored floodlight-type 'regular' bulbs.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[jbowyer01]

I found this online. http://www.bulbs.com/eSpec.aspx?ID=12128&Ref=Category&RefId=13