5 Dominiques, 1 Wk old: don't seem to want much heat

[feckless_son]

5 Dominiques.
One week old.
Brooder box had lights in a hood, temp always around 95F underneath it.
Chicks slept wherever they seemed to nod off.
I just moved them to a deluxe pen I built, 4'x5', same lights under a hood in one area.
Ambient temp is around 80F, closer to 90F under the hood.
Chicks sleep basically anywhere and don't seem to care about the light.
Body language gives no indication of temp-based discomfort in either direction.
Are Dominiques just hardy and don't need pampering?

 

[Chickenmaven]

Dominiques are awesome. Mine are cute & smart. One of our does classroom visits & has visited disabled kids. Awesome doesn't mean that they don't need a lamp. Yours are just content & happy. Keep up the good work!

 

[noitulover]

mine did the same thing! i had australorps, easter eggers, and cochins. they didn't seem to be bothered either in the cooler or warmer sections of the brooder.

i think that means they are happy and healthy and content! mine turned out just fine and are now about 12 weeks old!

 

[feckless_son]

Thanks much.
Pen was around 78 deg.F last night and li' Doms are still not gravitating to the light.
I guess body language really is the best indicator.

 

[kelidei]

Wow! I am always fascinated how when I have a question rattling around my head someone here almost always ends up asking it--- like this one! I just got a shipment of chicks yesterday morning and I am temporarily brooding them in a pen in my garage--- under the heat during the day yesterday it was about 100... ambient temp in the garage was 83---during the night it rained and cooled off--- now under the lamp it is about 90 and they are all over the place looking very comfy--- they are not all huddled together--- they are BO's EE's, RIR's, Australorps, and GLW's--- I figured I would just keep and eye on them--- if they don't show signs of being chilled I am assuming then I don't need to up the heat?

 

[<3<3 I <3 Chickens <3<3]

after 1 week, u move up the lite 6 inches

 

[gritsar]

At one week, temps are suppose to be 85 to 90, but my chicks never read the chick manual either.
They consistently wanted it about 10 degrees cooler. If they are avoiding the light, they are too warm.
"Read" your chicks.

 

[juliect]

Quote:
Mine too. I had the brooder pre-warmed to 95 degrees the day my Faverolles chicks arrived...less than an hour later they were showing signs of overheating. I dropped the heat back to the point where they all showed signs of being comfortable, which ended up being 80 degrees.

 

[feckless_son]

"Read" your chicks.

Great responses, all.
Thanks.

These li'l peepses are practically grown up, it seems.
Just coaxed the last of them to jump in the hand for some elevation and flax seeds.
The others are already smoking and cussing, riding on my shoulders, and the like.

If I can just get them started speaking a bit of rudimentary English,
I'll really have something to post about.​

 

[juliect]

Quote:
Great responses, all.
Thanks.

These li'l peepses are practically grown up, it seems.
Just coaxed the last of them to jump in the hand for some elevation and flax seeds.
The others are already smoking and cussing, riding on my shoulders, and the like.

If I can just get them started speaking a bit of rudimentary English,
I'll really have something to post about.

They do grow up so fast.