makes sense...
Red Star vs Black Star
TF, l always use a red heat lamp and my Sex-links still started plucking the other birds. I always puchased a high protein medicated chick starter so l guess my chicks never read the rule book! LOL!
Susan
I have a couple of heat lamps but not the red(infared?)lights in them; I have clear heat lamp bulbs. Does it make much difference in which bulbs are used?
I've already gotten the shavings, feed and a couple of plastic totes to place them. Thought I should keep the ducklings and chicks separated-I have game starter crumbles for the ducklings and chick starter crumbles for the chicks. Boy this month is going to drag waiting for them to come!
saanansandy, read TF's post above. That's why l posted about the heat lamp color.
I know what you mean about waiting. l thought l was going to get my new chicks the first part of Feb., but l still haven't gotten them. l'm waiting for another person to order them and she's taking her old sweet time at doing it. l think next time l will order them myself and order 25.
Susan
good idea to separate them. i regret picking up four ducklings from the feed store. much better to have momma raise some. but alas, our muscovies are all to closely related to let them set on their own eggs. so i guess i will have to re-think this.
you can either use a red bulb all the time, or teach them their bed time schedule by switching to red at night. they think the sun is down but can still see to eat and drink... about twelve hours each. but you will need two lamps, one with each kind of bulb, so you can warm the next one up before shutting off the current one. you don't want to try to swap those out, burn your fingers, and freeze the chicks [sound like i am speaking from exp?]
every week they will need less heat, so plan on being able to raise the heat lamps somehow...
TF, one thing that happened to me when we got chicks 4 years ago. We didn't have a heat lamp, so when we made the temp pen (in the garage) I actually used a 100 watt household bulb in a reflector. It work perfectly and did the same thing last year for the new ones. By keeping it about a foot above them and having them in a cardboard box with the side cut out, it must have been the right thing to do because they never huddled in a heap under it and also never left the center open while they stayed out of range. Of course, we had the woodstove going too, so it must have been the right temp for them. The only time we use heat lamps is in the winter in the henhouse. Our temps hit about 10 to 20 below zero every year, and that is the only source of heat they have then.
Hey, there's an echo in here! ; )
LOL.
yep, that works too. just make sure it doesn't get dusty in there, since you limit air circulation when you cover to retain heat.
Yep, there surely is an echo in here since I only posted that once.
TF, the box wasn't covered. It sets inside the mini pen we use for a starter pen until they get big enough to take outside into their other run till they get used to the other chix and them they run together.
oh. i covered mine for a while to keep them warm [tall furniture boxes] that's what it sounded like you were describing. but with all that goes on in this house, when i get on DG, i am generally speed reading between interruptions LOL
this thread has info on sexing by color, good to re-read...