Arizona Chickens

[rhondita55]

I call it the "faceplant" sleeping method, or the "dead chicken disguise". No problem, they're just tuckered out. The one on it's side is not real normal, they usually start doing that when they're too hot. If they are not panting or lifting their wings, they're probably all right. A chicken's body temp is 107, so what feels too warm to us is comfortable for them.

the one with the legs out, the Ameraucana was stretching his legs a moment ago. I'll just keep checking on them. They were peeping so loud at the store and on the way home. When I put them in the room and settled in they just shut up.... not a peep........ no panting or lifting wings...... just looking dead.

Just checked on them again and the one was sleeping normal and a buff had it's leg stretched. Hope I have good news in the morning.... sigh........ 1st timers... aren't we great.... LOL

 

[carnivore]

the one with the legs out, the Ameraucana was stretching his legs a moment ago. I'll just keep checking on them. They were peeping so loud at the store and on the way home. When I put them in the room and settled in they just shut up.... not a peep........ no panting or lifting wings...... just looking dead.

Just checked on them again and the one was sleeping normal and a buff had it's leg stretched. Hope I have good news in the morning.... sigh........ 1st timers... aren't we great.... LOL

Go on just about any of the hatchery sites, and they will have a link with instructions on how to care for your chicks. I usually order from Cackle Hatchery, so I'm partial to them.
For the first few days they should be kept at approx 100 degrees. You can gradually lower the temperature after this, down to normal Arizona room temp. Make sure they ALWAYS have clean water available. A hungry chick will peep, a thirsty chick will die.
I have a large cardboard box for a brooder, it is 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. I keep the lamp about 24 inches above the bottom, all the way into one corner of the box. If they get too warm, they can always move away from the light.

 

[rhondita55]

Go on just about any of the hatchery sites, and they will have a link with instructions on how to care for your chicks. I usually order from Cackle Hatchery, so I'm partial to them.
For the first few days they should be kept at approx 100 degrees. You can gradually lower the temperature after this, down to normal Arizona room temp. Make sure they ALWAYS have clean water available. A hungry chick will peep, a thirsty chick will die.
I have a large cardboard box for a brooder, it is 5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. I keep the lamp about 24 inches above the bottom, all the way into one corner of the box. If they get too warm, they can always move away from the light.

Thank you all for putting up with me. I went in to check on them and they are peeping, drinking, pecking...... so guess the little babies were just plain 'ol tuckered out. I just might be able to sleep tonight.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Beware of cooking your chicks. They need a place to get warm, but it is just as important that they have a way to cool off. Most of the heat lamps sold for chick brooders are way too big and hot for most backyard chicken setups. If your chicks are inside in a container of some sort, a large 250 watt heat lamp will fry your chicks pretty quickly. This is one reason those little Ecoglo gizmos are so popular. The small ones work great for a dozen chicks. They give the chicks a "safe" warm place to hide, and they won't overheat a small brooder.

If your whole brooder is 90 degrees or more, it is way too hot. Most feed stores tend to sell 250 watt bulbs, which is overkill for raising a handful of chicks. You can swap out the bulb with a much lower wattage heat bulb. You can find a variety of them in the reptile section of most large pet stores. If your brooder is small a 60 watt bulb may still be too much.

Keep one end of the brooder at a warmish temperature. Not hot. Make sure the rest of the brooder is room temperature, and the room is not too hot. I have had good results when I put the food and water at the far (cool) end of the brooder. Make sure the chicks know where the water is. Scatter some feed around on the ground, so they learn to peck for it.

Once you've seen a broody hen take her 2-3 day old chicks outside in the winter you won't be so concerned about heating indoor chicks. They need a way to get warm, but they thrive when they also have a way to cool off.

My broody-raised chicks that hatched in the fall grew much larger and much faster than any chicks that I've raised in a warm brooder in the spring. Their mom had them outside when they were just a few days old, and the temps were in the 40's (Farenheit). Healthiest chicks ever.

Don't cook the chicks!

 

[kpgoldstar]

I agree. At one week old, the heat lamp temp needs only to be at 85. My house is 83 right now. When I got my chicks at 2 weeks old it was October and my garage was pretty much 90 day and night. I only used a small bulb directed in the corner, food and water on the other side. I don't think my chicks were ever cold. They are super stressed at the feed stores! Way too many of them and too much stimulation and fighting for food and fresh water. Mine took a few hours after being home, safe and sound before they calmed down and started acting normal.

Good Luck!! I'm so excited for you! Try to get some sleep tonight!

 

[carnivore]

For a pic of the classic faceplant, check out the guy just north of the waterer.



I have to agree with all the above, I keep my house at about 80 degrees, and don't even use the light after the first week unless it's a cold night.

 

[MagicChicken]

For a pic of the classic faceplant, check out the guy just north of the waterer.



I have to agree with all the above, I keep my house at about 80 degrees, and don't even use the light after the first week unless it's a cold night.

Awwww... precious little face-planted guy...

 

[rhondita55]

I have the bulb at 3' and only pointed at the box. It was 90 where the light hit. I put the thermometer on the bottom.
But ALL is Well this morning and active like they should be....... Maybe they were overly tired from the store. Who knows.
It really is confusing...... a hatchery website said to keep them at 100 for the first week, then 90 for week to, then drop 5 degrees every week to 75.
My house is never 75 except in the winter.

I even said that putting a regular bulb over them would kill them. sigh........
But most important, I got great advice here and the little peeps survived the night.
I'm thinking they aren't a week old. When I asked she said about a week and said they get a couple shipments a week.

 

[rhondita55]

Awwww... precious little face-planted guy...

Awwwwww is right.... they are all so cute.........

 

[carnivore]

I use a swamp cooler during the day and turn it off at night, windows open 24/7. Daytime house temp runs about 80, nighttime can drop to about 60, but not for much longer! I turn the light off during the day, turn it on at night if it's going to be cool.
As someone posted above, let the chicks guide you. If they are clustered under the light, they are cold. If they are trying to get as far from the light as possible they are too warm. If they are spread out in the brooder, they are fine. Keep the food and water as far as possible from the light to keep it cool. Way back in this thread, someone (desertmarcy??) Suggested that excessive pasty butt can be caused by the chicks being too cold. If so, I must be doing something right, pasty butts are pretty rare in my chicks. I had one Cochin last night that needed a cleanup, but I just got it yesterday, so it could be related to the shipping.