A few questions from a newbie!

[ChellesChickens]

Hello all!!! Man this site is beyond helpful.... Okay so I have 3 Buff Orphingtons and 3 Buff Brahmas in a brooder, but I cannot get the temp to come above 84 (I believe they are a week old... maybe a week and a half). They aren't huddled in like they are cold, they are sleeping everywhere, sometimes they are all under the light, sometimes one is... most of the time, there is one in the dust bath sleeping, over by the food, over by the water.... I am just curious as to whether I need to get a bigger bulb? I do have 1 Brahma that rarely comes out from under the light. She (or what I think is a she) seems to be the less active of the group, but seems to still be eating and drinking.... Also I have 2 or 3 more chicks coming that are younger than these guys, but only by a couple of days.... will they all be okay if put together? They love thier dust bath and have been pecking at it a lot... lol I think they are eating nonstop too! But all in all they seem pretty happy.... Thank you all so much for all of your help!

 

[crazy rooster34]

make sure there are no drafts to see if that will help the bramha chick, it wouldn't hurt to get bit bigger bulb, or close off the brooder from cool air to raise the temp a bit. as for those new chicks i did the same thing with no trouble but the two youngest ones are the runts, hope that helps

 

[ChellesChickens]

Thank you so much! I did go get a bigger bulb today and that has helped a lot. I just put a blanket over the vents I made in the tub so it helped there too... now we are battling pasty butt! But with all the stuff I have read I think we will get it nipped before it gets to bad! They are eating nonstop right now! I put ground oatmeal in their food and they love it. Thank you so much for the advice!! Definetly helps!

 

[crazy rooster34]

Thank you so much! I did go get a bigger bulb today and that has helped a lot. I just put a blanket over the vents I made in the tub so it helped there too... now we are battling pasty butt! But with all the stuff I have read I think we will get it nipped before it gets to bad! They are eating nonstop right now! I put ground oatmeal in their food and they love it. Thank you so much for the advice!! Definetly helps!

your welcome, glad i could help