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The chicks will need a warm brooder to start them off on the right track. Brooders can be acquired from a supply company or homemade-from a spare cardboard box, an old stock tank or rubber tub. The key points are; that it is draft free, provides ventilation and secure from predators (including indoor pets).
To supply food and water use small feeders and drinkers that are easy for the chicks to access. Premier's Classic range of drinkers and feeders fit well in brooders because they have a low pan height that chicks can easily reach.
When heating the brooder, make sure to hang the heat lamp at the proper height. What height is that? Some rules of thumb:
- If the chicks are clustered directly beneath the lamp they are chilled because the lamp is too high. So lower the lamp.
- If the chicks are clustered far away from the lamp they are too warm. Raise the lamp.
- If they are evenly dispersed beneath the heat lamp the temperature (and the height of the bulb) is as it should be.
There are other methods, obviously, but our heat lamp stand is an effective way to hang the lamp above the brooder. It makes altering the height very easy.
If the heat lamp hasn't been used for a while take the cover off and check that mice haven't made a nest next to the bulb. Then plug it in to see if the bulb still works. Time is an enemy of cheap heat lamp bulbs.
For any questions contact Premier at 1-800-282-6631 or email info@premier1supplies.com. |
