Egg Finder
In the Brooder
- Nov 2, 2021
- 16
- 45
- 49
I've been reading through posts and I think I've decided what I might do. But if anyone is in a similar climate or situation, I'd love some advice. I've brooded chicks outside during the spring twice with success. I used a small coop and a brooding plate. This was the plan again for this year. However, when the local feed store asked if we'd like to add some chicks to his order, I couldn't resist. Not sure what to do for January, we bought a large plastic tote and put them in the house with the brooder plate. The 15 chicks are now a little over a week old and they will soon outgrow the tote. We currently have a metal stock tank with chicken wire over the top inside an unheated shop building ready to go. But we are debating how to heat them. Yesterday was in the low 60's, now we are in the 20's consistently through the week. I have a thermometer in it, but our temperature swings concern me since we both work and I've never used a heat lamp for chicks. My husband has a heat lamp in there now about 18 inches from the bottom and has boards to cover it all to retain the heat. I'm afraid they'll get too hot. I'm thinking about leaving the top covered by wire only, putting the brooder plate in there, and then securely hanging the heat lamp up higher and on the side of the brooder plate just to heat the ambient temperature on the heat plate side. Any experience with this setup or advice? Oh, and I think my husband may have just ordered more chicks because, hey, the feed store is placing another order and if he can get the kind we want, he'll add them. Can I put three day old chicks in with these that will be two weeks old? Thanks in advance!