First time rearing chicks...what age are these?? any advice?

My chicks were in a lawnmower box, and the heat lamp started off about 50cm from the bottom and 30cm from the sides.  I never had any problems with over heating or combustion lol.

You could take the cage off the bottom of the lamp and place it flat on the mesh top of the brooder - 29°C is still a little cool for a week old - though you might find that if you block off the sides it will warm up nicely on the inside

It is surprising just how warm it has to be in that box :nods:

Love the brooder!!!  on wheels too    but yes, like the others say, cover up the sides, but then you may find the lamp is too warm.  I use 250w heat for 100 chicks, above that and I use 2 lamps.

This is my brooder box and the lamp is just a 60w red bulb with a cheap metal shade bought from Wilkinson's (chickenlady's idea!!)  Works a treat 

This picture actually shows it with a proper heat lamp over it though!

doesnt sound good 

at what age would i (hopefully with help from you good people) be able to sex them for certain?

Since the pic I have taken the guard off the lamp and lowered it, now it sits more or less on the mesh. I have covered the side with some sheets of polystyrene and drapped a towel over the end nearest the door of the out-building. Its currently 32C at 01.30...off to bed now 

Many Thanks for all the info...I think i'm learning slowly  :blink:

I have kept the sides covered, as it creates more of a box...had to raise the lamp higher...but now according to the thermometer max/min it got to 33/30...they seem happy and freely moving about, so i think i've cracked it.

Although I used the BBQ, there is very little metal, only the uprights the rest is wood.

I'll have to take more pics as the weeks progress...keeping fingers crossed there all girls.

how long will i be able to keep them in there for?

sorry, i know i've asked loads of questions... 

can anyone help

Personally I don't think your timetable is that far wrong.  When you say mix growers crumbs at 5 weeks you mean to start to add gowers pellets to the crumbs?  This is fine as any change of feed needs to be done gradually say over 2 or 3 weeks.  When you start coming off heat you should start switching it off during the day and only having it on at night.  Obviously pay attention to the ambient temperature and if it is warm you can reduce the heat earlier than you indicate.  At this time of year it's more difficult to have hard and fast rules and you need to use your judgement a bit more than in summer when it's generally steadier conditions.  I'd start to introduce layers at about 14 weeks and aim to have them exclusively on layers by 16 weeks.
Feeding oyster shell I'm not so happy about personally, particularly before they start to lay.  A good quality compound feed contains all the calcium they need and there's more danger of over feeding it than under feeding it if you use a compound feed.  It's particularly bad to over feed when they are young and growing as it effects bone development.  Some people seem to place great emphasis on it but modern feeds are well balanced and it's just given wisdom traditionally handed down in my opinion.  Older birds (3 years plus) are generally thought to need more calcium than younger ones.  If you feel the need to use it just make it available in a mixed grit once laying starts and certainly don't mix it in their feed.  I've actually cut down the amount of calcium as with my 18 month old layers I was finding more problems with pips and chalky shells and the shell quality has actually improved.
Particularly when they are young don't overdo the titbits and keep to no more than 5% of their total feed.
Your brooder will probably be OK for 4 birds upto say 4 weeks but pay attention to any signs of boredom and you will probably need to give them more space to explore.  Cardboard boxes and perches or anything for them to hop about on like swings or balls will keep them occupied and not developing bad habits like feather pecking. A little bit of corn scattered in ther clean litter will encourage their foraging behaviour if you provide for their every need without any effort they can be bored and pick up bad behavioural habits especially when cramped.
Regards

thanks for the really helpful replies...i'm a complete novice, but hopefully learning fast 

when you say the crumbs/pellets are a compound feed and contain everything, does that mean i dont need to start them on chick (fine) grit at 4 weeks old, should i wait until i start giving small amounts of corn in week 17...or did you mean give corn as a scatter feed earlier? and is it ok to scatter the corn in the wood shavings?

am i right in adding a perch in week 8 or could i do it sooner? what size perch should i use for their first one?

when i have to take them out of the brooder, what size box will i need to keep them in until i can start putting them outside in week 8?

sorry for all these questions...  this really is a great forum...thanks for all the great advice