Hello!
I'm very excited to receive my first chicks from the post office in about two weeks. Like I said, this is my first time doing this, so I have quite a few questions. My first one is, can I keep my chicks in a basement that is about 55 to 60 degrees? Their brooder will be a dog crate lined with thin pieces of cardboard on the walls and floor, with shavings over the floor pieces of cardboard. They'll obviously have access to food and water, but the heating source I'll be using is an EcoGlow20. For those who haven't heard of it, it sits on the floor of the brooder and radiates heat with a temperature that imitates that of the warmth of a mother hen. Therefore, the heat won't be the 95 degrees emitted by the heat lamps that are more commonly used. Do you think my new, days old chicks will be alright in these temperatures? Is there anything I can do to keep them warmer, without changing their location or using a real heat lamp (I really don't want to risk fires)? My other option would be to keep them upstairs. Next to the kitchen. On carpet. I'm positive my family members wouldn't appreciate that... Well, thanks for reading, and I appreciate all of your responses!
Thanks very much, and wish me luck!
I'm very excited to receive my first chicks from the post office in about two weeks. Like I said, this is my first time doing this, so I have quite a few questions. My first one is, can I keep my chicks in a basement that is about 55 to 60 degrees? Their brooder will be a dog crate lined with thin pieces of cardboard on the walls and floor, with shavings over the floor pieces of cardboard. They'll obviously have access to food and water, but the heating source I'll be using is an EcoGlow20. For those who haven't heard of it, it sits on the floor of the brooder and radiates heat with a temperature that imitates that of the warmth of a mother hen. Therefore, the heat won't be the 95 degrees emitted by the heat lamps that are more commonly used. Do you think my new, days old chicks will be alright in these temperatures? Is there anything I can do to keep them warmer, without changing their location or using a real heat lamp (I really don't want to risk fires)? My other option would be to keep them upstairs. Next to the kitchen. On carpet. I'm positive my family members wouldn't appreciate that... Well, thanks for reading, and I appreciate all of your responses!
Thanks very much, and wish me luck!