80 degrees warm enough?

[zooweemama]

Twelve 2 week old chicks. It's 80 degrees in my house ambient temperate and inside their brooder with the light off it is also 80. (light off because I just cleaned their brooder). Should I still have the heat lamp on them at this point? It was 85 before I turned them off. They have been at 85 for over a week (90 made them pant). They are active, running around, not huddling...thanks!

 

[koko]

I thought the same. As long as the tempurature is constant and does not quickly increase or decrease your chicks will be fine. I have my five chicks and never opened a heat lamp for them, I did'nt even buy a heat lamp. The tempurature inside my house is usually 78*. So far its been a week and not one of the five chicks I own died. So your chicks should be worm and cozy for the night.

 

[zooweemama]

Thanks so much!

 

[besjoux]

Mine never seemed to do well (except the first 2 days) with 95 heat. They are all over the brooder now and the temp is 85. None seem uncomfortable. It must just be that the weather is warmer out now. I bet they need more light when it's early spring and the brooder temp is more variable (due to lower outside temps).

 

[zooweemama]

They were being louder than normal so I turned their heat lamp on low (my husband made me a dimmer) and brought it up to about 83 and they quieted down and took a nap so I think they wanted it just a wee bit warmer. I think in a few days though they will be ready for room temp. Thanks so much guys!

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

If 90 made them pant, and they seemed fine between 80-85, then I think they should be fine. Once they get older, you can start to reduce the temp, but only by about 5 degrees a week.

 

[RonC]

At about three weeks I checked on them one night and they were at the far end from the light sleeping. That's when I turned mine off. Only one or twice did I turn it back on when we would have a cool night and then I moved it further away to give less heat. Might be some breeds that feather slower and need more heat for longer. I think most at 3 weeks can make it without a heatlamp unless it's a really cool climate. Watching their behaviour is the best method, the thermometer is more to give us an idea where to start.

 

[zooweemama]

If 90 made them pant, and they seemed fine between 80-85, then I think they should be fine. Once they get older, you can start to reduce the temp, but only by about 5 degrees a week.

Well my house is 78/80 degrees and outside it's about 100 degrees so after 80 degrees- all I can really do is shut the lamp off because it's already 78/80 in the house. And outside it's just...well hot. I guess I just need to let the chicks tell me what they need though!

 

[Nicole01]

You'll know by their peeping. I do not keep the entire brooder the same temp. I put the light in the corner. The first 2-3 weeks, I cover the brooder to make sure it's draft free.

I have three new hatches and as soon as they grow out the old guinea cage, into the coop they go. I have the dog kennel already set up in there. I bought a 100watt red flood lamp, but it might be too hot to use it.

 

[zooweemama]

I bet others that brood in my area have a hard time keeping their chicks cool if they brood in their garage or barn. So hot in the Summer!