Temp in brooder

[SuzyB]

What temperature does my brooder need to be? The brooder Ive bought has come with a 60w red bulb, but googling to double check that, lots of sites have said it should be more like a 250w bulb? Its not a huge box and it will only have two chicks in, which sites are right?

[julesapple]

Our Heath Robinson brooder pen is a huge cardboard tray (Lidl have pop bottles stacked in them) with the mesh part from a huge old parrot cage over the top. We've got a 250w heat bulb suspended on a chain over the pen and we can higher and lower the bulb to change temperature. Currently (no pun intended) it's at 32c for yesterday's babies.

I had placed two new hatchlings under the same bulb but inside a polystyrene high-sided box yesterday, carefully measured the temp, and put a black cloth over one third of the box to provide shade. What I didn't do was to consider the insulating properties of the polystyrene and the heat of the sunshine added to the 250w.Never again.

You maybe absolutely fine with your 60w over a much smaller box. The initial temp should be 32c, but this should be gradually lowered over the next four to five weeks to about 21c according to my chookbooks. We had our first lot of chicks outside, for a few hours each day, at three weeks as it was so hot outside.

Jules

[SuzyB]

Thanks Jules.

I'll see how we go with the light fitting/bulb thats come with it then, the behaviour of the chicks will tell me as well as the thermometer wont it. Ive bought a clip on lamp fitting too which I can use if its not enough.

Turned off the incubator this morning, CL eggs didnt do anything

[sheena]

I got a huge propagator from Wilko's with lid and fitted a 60w heavy duty bulb. It seems to be able to get the temp up to max allowance for the chicks, and fitted a dimmer at the plug from amazon so I can turn down the heat if it gets too hot for them.

My only concern is that the bulb will be too low for the chicks within a couple of weeks and i don't fancy them pecking at it, so may have to reconsider options as they are start growing.

[MrsC]

I used a 60w spot from Wickes in mine. My brooder was na indoor rabbit hutch. I placed a fleecy blanket over part of the wire bit at the top and gradually reduced this over the 1st cpl of weeks. The bulb was suspended about 8" above the floor and I made a cage of mesh over it. I also added small cloths (old towels which I changed daily) and the chicks loved to snuggle into it.

[SuzyB]

I got a huge propagator from Wilko's with lid and fitted a 60w heavy duty bulb. It seems to be able to get the temp up to max allowance for the chicks, and fitted a dimmer at the plug from amazon so I can turn down the heat if it gets too hot for them.

My only concern is that the bulb will be too low for the chicks within a couple of weeks and i don't fancy them pecking at it, so may have to reconsider options as they are start growing.

Thats a good idea, I'll look into that.

I think my bulb will also be too low in a couple of weeks so I'll have to figure something out for then.

For the moment though, the 3, two week old welsummers I have just picked up seem happy enough in the middle of the box so Im taking that as a sign the temperature is ok for them. Now need names for the girls, one I'll keep, two will go to a new home once they are big enough - least Im told they are girls, the lady I bought them from sexed them from their 'eyeliner'

[Bramble-Poultry]

You start the brooder at 37 degrees to mimic the incubator for the first week, lowering the temperature (by raising the bulb) by a few degrees each week until by 6 weeks they are only having the bulb on at night. by eight weeks you wont need it at all.

we use plastic stacker boxes here with mesh over the top and suspend a red fireglow bulb over. each week we raise the bulb higher until they dont need it at all.

If the chicks are bunched together, they are cold and the heat needs to be increased, if the chicks are at the far reaches of the brooder they are too hot and therefore raise the bulb and if they are a mixture between under and away then its the right temperature.

hope that helps

Mike

[SuzyB]

Thanks Mike, Ive decided to completely rethink the box they are in. Its a stacker box but the bulb is fixed in one position through the side so there's no way of moving it. Also I think it needs more ventilation too, today Ive left one side of the lid raised up a bit and made sure the cats have been shut out.

[Bramble-Poultry]

our latest brooder is nothing more than a large shed (18'x12') with a couple of lamps over and some cardboard bent into the corners to round them off (that way the chicks dont get stuck in the corners and squished) We have 150 turkeys in that brooder! fancy swapping the electric bill for yours?

[SuzyB]

Hmm you'll not mind if I pass on that one will you?

Mine are now in a large dog crate with an electric hen which they seem to love. Got 4 more chicks at weekend and they all snuggle under, its very sweet.

Which reminds me, I must take a photo of the cuckoo maran chick just to make sure its what Ive been told it is. All the photos Ive googled have come up with mostly dark chicks with yellowy under bits. This one is yellow and cream all over. Very pretty, but want to make sure it is what its supposed to be!

[kirsty b]

I used a fireglow bulb earlier this year - think it was at Mike/Jennie's suggestion - suspended over a big cardboard box. Will be doing the same again this time. My OH made a metal reflector type thingy to house the bulb.
When chicks grew out of box, OH converted a cot one of our neighbours threw out for them to live in.

[gillian62]

Hi, great suggestions for brooders. Thank you. We are due to get some chicks at the weekend, so will get a stacking box and mesh ready for them. I didn't know about trying to get a heat lamp, but looks like the fireglow bulb I have bought will be ok.