68F tonight and wet goslings

[starrymutt]

The heat wave finally broke today but my goslings, 5 and 3-4 weeks old were caught in the rain and swimming. I quickly put them in the brooder, they were pretty scared of the rain, but I've left the heat lamps off due to the humidity and don't have access to the lead cord.

I'm a bit worried they might get a chill since the low tonight will be high 60s-70s. Is that okay? The "babies" are just starting to get their feathers and one is mostly fully feathered but their bellies are completely soaked.

 

[Barnette]

I would try to gently towel them off, or use a blow dryer if you can get someone to help you

 

[starrymutt]

I would try to gently towel them off, or use a blow dryer if you can get someone to help you

I let them out for about a good two hours to graze since it stopped raining and they preened and seemed to mostly dry themselves off. Still a little wet but I think mostly good? Definitely not soaked

 

[Barnette]

I let them out for about a good two hours to graze since it stopped raining and they preened and seemed to mostly dry themselves off. Still a little wet but I think mostly good? Definitely not soaked

They should be okay... does your coop have windows or other ventilation? If it has vents AND windows, you could close some of the windows so it's a bit warmer but still have good airflow

 

[starrymutt]

They should be okay... does your coop have windows or other ventilation? If it has vents AND windows, you could close some of the windows so it's a bit warmer but still have good airflow

Currently they're in our outside brooder, it's temporary until we can build a proper coop tomorrow. Like this, the door is the only ventilation but it's still pretty humid out

 

[Barnette]

Currently they're in our outside brooder, it's temporary until we can build a proper coop tomorrow. Like this, the door is the only ventilation but it's still pretty humid out

Okay, that looks comfortable enough. If you are worried, you could lay an old blanket or towel halfway over the screen, but they should be fine. Good job taking such good care of them!

 

[NatJ]

Currently they're in our outside brooder, it's temporary until we can build a proper coop tomorrow. Like this, the door is the only ventilation but it's still pretty humid out

If you are worried about them getting too cold, but also worried about them getting too hot, maybe put one heat lamp in a corner of the brooder and turn it on. That will give them a place to warm up if they are cold, but will hopefully avoid heating the rest of the brooder, so the goslings can make their own choice of what temperature is correct. I know that baby chickens are good at moving themselves into the area with a comfortable temperature, and I would assume that goslings will do it too, although I do not know for sure.

Of course you would want to watch how the goslings act: if they snuggle under the heat lamp then they probably did need the heat, but if they stay at the far end of the brooder then they do not want the heat and you should turn it off again.