Brooder Heat Lamp Calculator
Set the right brooder temperature for the age and number of chicks you have.
Heat lamps cause more brooder fires than every other factor combined. Knowing the right target temperature — and how to step it down each week — lets you use a lower-wattage bulb or a heat plate, both of which are far safer.
Coming soon
We're still polishing the formulas for this calculator. Drop your email below and we'll send you a single message the day it goes live.
What this calculator will do
- Target brooder temperature for each week (95°F week 1, dropping 5°F per week)
- Recommended heat lamp wattage based on chick count and ambient room temperature
- Heat-plate sizing as a safer alternative to lamps
- Brooder floor area required (it grows fast — chicks need about 2 sq ft each by week 4)
- Behavior cues: huddling vs. spreading, what each tells you about temperature
What you'll enter
- Number of chicks
- Age in days or weeks
- Ambient room temperature where the brooder lives
- Brooder enclosure type (open-top tote, closed brooder, garage, barn)