Keeping Chickens Warm

Below are pictures of chickens after two weeks and after three weeks from hatching. One of the most important things with raising chickens is to provide them with plenty of heat. Usually the best option is with a heat lamp with a bulb that is at least 120 watts although often a 250 watt bulb is needed. It really depends on the size of the brooder, fancy name for nest or home. Some people have gotten by with a 60 watt bulb but I would not recommend it unless you have them in your house near another heat source. In their first week baby chicks require an air temperature of 95 degrees! Usually a low watt bulb will not provide this for them. The air temperature can be reduced by five degrees for each following week until "room temperature". Often I will wait until they are fully feathered before removing the heat bulbs completely and I will provide multiple heat bulbs for larger groups of chickens. They should be able to move freely around their brooder and the temperature should be fairly consistent in the entire brooder. The best way to tell if your brooder is too cool is your chicks will be huddled directly underneath the bulb and if it is too hot they will all be crowded off to the side. Be careful that you do not keep them too cool or they will die! The same is true if they get too hot.

Two Weeks Old

Three Weeks Old