Anyone have tips on first night of baby chicks in brooder

[GibsonChicks4U]

Hello guys, ness to this , I seem to be worrying about whether my chicks will get too hot at night just got 15. Rhode Island reds, any tips for their first night in the brooder , and am I worrying too much about them?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

90-95 degrees for the first week of life and decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered around 6 weeks, even on the head. (Temp. recommendations for chicks.)

It can be warmer than this under the bulb but make sure they have room to get away from the heat at the other end of the brooder. Watch the chicks - if they are huddled together under the light they are cold...if they are as far as possible away from the light they are too hot (or panting). If they are in a circle around the light that is perfect (or scattered throughout the brooder, talking and eating/drinking).

I hope this helps!

 

[PimentoPlymouth]

Just watch your chicks I dont pay to much attention to the temp after the inital setup just watch the chicks and how they act. As stated before if they are all scattered out away from the light and seem to be panting then its to low. If they seem to be huddled together directly underneath all the time then lower some. Raise a little every week and youll be fine. Take more time to enjoy their fluff while its there and worry less

 

[GibsonChicks4U]

I work throughout the day from 8 to. 5 any suggestions in the heating part? It's hard to watch them while at worl

 

[PimentoPlymouth]

is the brooder inside the house or a room that stays around the same temperature throughtout the day.

 

[Sonya9]

If it were me I would make sure the brooder is big enough to have a significant temperature gradient, 90 to 95 on one side and at least 15 or so degrees lower on the other side. Since you can't watch them and monitor them for most of the day they need to be able to control the amount of heat as needed.

I have mine in a 2.5 foot long wire dog crate. Heat lamp is on one end, I use an indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the temp on both sides of the brooder. It is running a bit high on the warm side in this photo but you get the idea. The heat lamp is in the back close to the water.

 

[GibsonChicks4U]

It's in a room that stays decent have the AC set for 76 in house and have their heat lamp on them they were all up eating and drinking when I got up

 

[GibsonChicks4U]

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If it were me I would make sure the brooder is big enough to have a significant temperature gradient, 90 to 95 on one side and at least 15 or so degrees lower on the other side. Since you can't watch them and monitor them for most of the day they need to be able to control the amount of heat as needed.

I have mine in a 2.5 foot long wire dog crate. Heat lamp is on one end, I use an indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the temp on both sides of the brooder. It is running a bit high on the warm side in this photo but you get the idea. The heat lamp is in the back close to the water.

x2 If they can get away from the heat they will be OK and you don't have to worry about them overheating.

Just make sure you have the waterers and feeders set up so that the shavings don't clog them up and they can't eat or drink. I find that putting the waterer up on bricks (with a brick next to it for them to step up to drink) works well at keeping shavings out. Of course if you elevate things they need a step up so they can reach it.

 

[The Lazy L]

What ChickensAreSweet said.

Given them space to they can more closer or away from they heat. They are smart enough to know when they are cold or too hot.