Our first chicks are here...is my heat lamp low enough?

We picked up 4 of our 6 chicks today! I am so excited, they are so cute!

The feed store orders from Ideal and Privett, they seem healthy and happy. They were being kept outdoors and their heat lamp was so low the chicks just fit under without touching the wire. I plan to keep them in the house, my heat lamp is not that low. Do you think this looks OK or should I lower it...or raise it (they didn't have a temp thingy or I would have bought one), is this considered "huddled together"? They are not chirping, we got them home after a 20 min car ride, they drank, nibbled a tiny bit and passed out.

We have a silver laced wyandotte, barnevelder, EE (I was told Ameraucana but I am pretty sure it is not) and a barred plymouth rock. I hope...it was kinda hard to tell the little suckers apart, I didn't know they just tossed all the breeds in together LOL.

Thanks for the help!

Pics are from when we just got them home. About 30 min later they are now sleeping right over by the food dish, still close ish but not right on top of each other...still quiet.


I will post more detailed pics of the chicks later....wanted to let them rest and chill.

They look like they're comfortable so I think you're OK.
If they crowd under the lamp, they're too cold. If they crowd at the far end, they're too hot. If they're scattered, they're just right.
That's the best indicator - pretty much forget temperature.

Thanks a lot...I feel like a nervous Momma

Love your new babies!

When I first got my babies I had to adjust the light till I got the correct temp. I got a chicken thermometer from tractor supply. They are marked so you can see what temp they need as the weeks go on. I found it helpful being a new chick momma. Mine were outside so I had to adjust the light several times (put it on a pulley type set up so I could raise and lower it) to get the temp right for the weather. In the daytime I even had to move it up because the outside temp was higher. If they are inside once you get the right temp you only have to adjust it as the weeks go by. good luck!

Thanks guys!

The girls are still doing well...running around a bit, eating, drinking and sleeping. They are peeping a little every now and then, but it is not loud constant peeps like on the car ride home when I'm sure they were a little chilly. Hopefully they are doing fine,

A couple of them already have little pin feathers coming through...I was told the hatch day was 1/27, they got to the feed store yesterday the 29th. I wonder if being kept out side the last day and a half made their feathers start early? Or do they just grow that fast? I mean I knew they grow fast, but I didn't expect it that fast

Welcome! They look fine. Chicks grow FAST! Those cute babies change daily, and that's part of the fun of raising them. Soon they will be scruffy younglings that just look weird; enjoy! Mary

TripMomma said:

Thanks guys!

The girls are still doing well...running around a bit, eating, drinking and sleeping. They are peeping a little every now and then, but it is not loud constant peeps like on the car ride home when I'm sure they were a little chilly. Hopefully they are doing fine,

A couple of them already have little pin feathers coming through...I was told the hatch day was 1/27, they got to the feed store yesterday the 29th. I wonder if being kept out side the last day and a half made their feathers start early? Or do they just grow that fast? I mean I knew they grow fast, but I didn't expect it that fast

Click to expand...

They look good, just remember to raise it a little every week. As long as your chicks are fed and water they shouldn't peep historically. Usually they peep when they need something. There pin feathers come in right away. I remember getting my chicks to the door after 2 days they were shedding. Just be aware when they start shedding it gets very dusty and those little feathers float everywhere.

Do chicks sometimes just get to peeping loudly for a few seconds but don't need anything?

Their food and water in full, they are in a 65 degree room with the heat lamp in their brooder, they are not huddled together...they are eating, drinking and even playing and zooming around every now and then.

Every time they start peeping I go check on them, but nothing seems to be wrong, just makes me nervous since I thought they should be pretty much quiet if all is well..

Im pretty sure thats a sign that they are HAPPY