Brooder heating

[matt]

I am about to hatch a few duck's and i have made a brooder box to site nicely in my spare room. It has plenty of room and rounded side's with a metal grid on top. Just needed abit of help in finishing it off ie: heating it. Am I right in saying that a 100watt bulb is plenty as I have had a look on the internet and this seems to be what people use? I known there are heat lamps one the market but 240 watt seems a big no. and I dont want to blind them or give them a better tan than me. ha ha

thanks for any advise
Matthew

 

[chrismahon]

Had this discussion a few times here Matt. Welcome to the forum.

Don't know why they sell 250W bulbs as it's miles to big for domestic keepers and the ceramic versions melt your lampholder. White bulbs have limited uses as well. We go red 175W for first week and them switch to night and day using an 80W ceramic (black, no light) bulb and give them daylight from a window. Best idea to save money on electricity (and you will be amazed how much it bumps up your bill) is an electric hen, about 30 Watts. There is a Brinsea unit that seems too small but you will be OK in this weather. A 50W electric hen is on our shopping list.

 

[matt]

Thanks for the advices, there not due till two weeks time but I thought best to get it all sorted.

By the way candled the saxonby eggs yesterday and there air gap is at the wrong end not the blunt end. Any idea's if this is right and if they will be any good at the end?

 

[chrismahon]

Were they stored upside down at any time Matt? They should be stored pointy end down in trays before going into the incubator as the air sac starts forming quickly by water evaporation from the egg. I don't know how they will do as the pointy end is going to be harder for them to break out of. Never experience this myself, perhaps someone else on the forum has?

Try posting the question in the chicken hatching eggs section as there are more viewers of that area than the Waterfowl section -the problem would be the same for either I would expect.

 

[matt]

Thank for that, I will see what happens then for both of us and let you known

Matthew and rebecca

 

[binghamd]

I hatched young duckling (Welsh Harlequins) for the first time 2 months ago. I used a 100Watt ceramic while they were in the spare room but had to move them into a shed where I needed a 250W ceramic to keep the temp up. The have been off heat for 3-4 weeks now.
A word of warning. There are incredibly messy with water. I ended up with a seed tray under their water container and had to empty it every day.
Good luck. Mine are now absolutely stunning. The mess was worth it. Watching them taking a bath is so f