Are the chicks too hot?

[ranchhand]

Double check your thermometer. That's way to much heat lamp for a plastic laundry basket.

 

[Nergock]

Yes, that's a 250 watt heat lamp. I thought that was what I was suppose to get. That was the only wattage they have. I have a smaller lamp that I used for my turtles in the past but it's not infrared. Should I use that instead? I've move the lamp higher and the basket further away from the lamp. Will that help?

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[noodleroo]

I adjust my light by adding books under the base (or what ever is holding) the heat lamp. If you think they are too hot, raise the light about 1" at a time until they move closer to the light. Let them show you where they want it. I don't get too hung up on what the temp is supposed to be; if they are huddled right under the light, they are too cold, if they are as far away from the light as they can get, they are hot. Looking at your set up, you might also move the basket (brooder) about an inch farther away from the light and see if they respond. The middle of the light does not have to be completely in the brooder. With a really small brooder and only a few chicks I think its OK to try it that way.

 

[Nergock]

Not sure how I would double check the thermometer when I just have one. I know when I moved the thermometer up next to the heat lamp, the temperature quickly raises above 100 degree. I've read that if they are too hot they will peep loundly and will pant a lot. They are not showing these signs. They are huddled away from the heat source but they are cuddling up with one another and sleeping peacefully.

Is common for them to sleep so much on their first day in the new home?

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[noodleroo]

We posted about the same time. WalMart sells a 'heat lamp' in the hardware section for about $9. You can use just a regular 100 watt bulb and I don't really know if the color is that important. I've used just a regular white bulb, yellow, and a black light bulb. For now though, move the basket a little farther away until the chicks move out of the corner and more toward the light. Get them comfortable for now and then go get your heat lamp. With such a small set up, you don't need as much power as you have.

 

[WilczenskiFarm]

Ok, You're worried... so that means your a great chicken-mom!

And yes - they crazy-crash the first day or so. At least mine did. It was pretty funny - they'd run and fall asleep standing up and tip over

Moving the basket back and forth to get a cozy temp is great. As weeks go by, your lamp might be a little too much... no worries though ... easily remedied

Nice job - I love the basket! We used a tote

 

[gritsar]

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95 is recommended for the first week, but except in the coldest part of winter I've always found that to be too hot....especially in a small space like your brooder. I'd either raise the light or switch to a lower watt bulb.

Agreed. I had to shut the light off completely (during the day today, will go back on before dusk) on my three day old chicks today. They're on our screened porch and it was simply too hot. Right now it's 84 in their brooder and they're happy.
Let your chicks tell you what's comfortable. As far away as possible from the heat, acting uncomfortable, sometimes panting and holding their little wings out, they're too hot. Huddled under the light and peeping loudly, too cold.

 

[Nergock]

Replaced with 60w reptile bulb. Temperature is now 80 degree. That did the trick as they are moving about the in the brooder now. Thanks everyone!!

 

[casumm]

I was worried about the same thing since it was SO hot today and my 4-day-old girls stay on our glassed in front porch. (It's steamy out there.) I switched to a lower watt infrared reptile bulb (that was NOT cheap) this evening and they seem more comfortable, both with temp and also resting a bit more than they had.

I'm using a steralite bin that's probably about the same size as your laundry basket. I think it's a good size for a brooder for those of us who only have a couple of chicks. Seems like you're getting it figured out too!

Congrats on those beautiful girls!

-chris

 

[noodleroo]

Good for y'all! You're a good chick mom. I forgot to mention how beautiful your babies are; absolutely adorable!