i was so tired i read peck... so its ok.
Modern Brooder Design
They are just playin with you Catsy, cause they wanna come to Aunty ZZ's to play in the weeds..
OK Now here are the questions.
Last year when I started my first chicks, I went out and purchased a red light like suggested... This year Dumb is me I could not find it so I got a 100 watt white light... No problems out of the chicks..
I thought I had to keep them warm the first 6 weeks of thier life, or until they got real good feathers... It is chilly in my house, during the day the temps can go down to 60 and never over 70 in the evenings... So when do I start weaning them off lights?? Dont the feathers have something to do with it>?>
yup!
Now you know I was just teasing you.. right??
The white light does work.. the only reason your seasoned "brooders" use the red lights is because there are too many times the white does seem to cause a problem.. PLUS.. if you HAVE to have your chicks next to your bed the red light isn't glaring in your face like a white light will. Remeber, you are not giving the "daylight" you are giving them the heat.
Heat.. Yes.. the rule is.. 95* for newborn.. and 5* less each week..
I did that the first year.. but watched the local stores and learned.. Like ZZ said.. always give them a place to leave the light.. I found that it's more the drafts vs the cold/hot.. In the box they produce their own heat.. and I couldn't or just never did trust my themometer, it always felt much hotter than it said it was.
Yes.. the rule of the thub is the feathers.. once they feather out they can then protect themselves.. I think they can do that well before then..
You need to trust your judgement.. Remember everything you read is someones good advice.. but you must read it, injest it.. then form it into something YOU can live with..
Billy didn't come with instructions.. and look how well you both soar together!
That's why I swear by using the dimmer.. it just makes life sooo much easier! During our warm days, I can turn it way down.. then back up at night if needed. I've been able to wean them from the light in as little as 2 weeks in good weather..
I know it's more expensive, like the heat lamp bulb.. but in the long run, it pays off.
My rule of thumb is.. when they are fully fledged, and about the size of a pigeon, (bantys smaller of course) then they are ready to go outside.. In reality, I rarely even wait that long.
I may be wrong, but I feel the sooner the better in getting them outside... as long as it's safe and they won't suffer for it.
yea.. I agree ZZ.. the become a little tougher.. and self reliant.. little feather survialist.
I like the dimmer idea.. that I have never done.
Frans, I sometime wish he had come with a instruction book, but I think this time around its more fun..LOL I am really liking the chick TV in the tank, and the white light is bright, so last night I hung a towel over the front of the tank so it was a reall soft light and I was able to sleep better... LOL
i duck taped the towel to the front edge of the tank.. I take it off every morning & put it on every night. Works great. They know when the towel goes on (fleece in my case) they are to go to bed...
good idea Grey
my other tank.. that i had my fish in... i put velcro with sticky back on the edge.. & made a cute curtain that matched my room to velcro on at night so the light wasn't bright. :)