Baby chicks brooding in garage

[mym1414]

Hello, I live in the San Joaquin valley area of California and am brooding my chicks in a playpen in the garage. The temp is 90-95 outside and inside just a little warmer. The temperature will be 105 outside the next couple days, so it might get a little warmer inside as well. Do you all think this is alright to continue leaving them there or bring them inside the house? They still go under the brooder plate occasionally so I don’t think it’s too hot for them right now... They are 6 days old. There are vents in the garage but no drafts. I can also point a fan but read drafts are not good for them. Any recommendations? This is my first time having chicks so thank you for the advice.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I base my heat lamp position off of how the chicks are acting. You could apply the same logic to ambient temps. If they are huddled together, they’re cold. If they are moving about and eating, drinking and chickening all over the brooder, they’re comfortable. If they’re too hot they will be panting, holding their wings out and not moving around much. I would think they would be just fine in the garage without heat but monitor their behavior to see how they are feeling.

 

[mym1414]

I base my heat lamp position off of how the chicks are acting. You could apply the same logic to ambient temps. If they are huddled together, they’re cold. If they are moving about and eating, drinking and chickening all over the brooder, they’re comfortable. If they’re too hot they will be panting, holding their wings out and not moving around much. I would think they would be just fine in the garage without heat but monitor their behavior to see how they are feeling.

Thanks , they are pretty active running around, eating and drinking water . I don’t see them panting. I’ll keep an eye out for it

 

[rosemarythyme]

Definitely keep an eye on them as it heats up, it may very well become too warm for them in the garage. Chicks are susceptible to heat stress too.

 

[Penpal]

You could put a small fan near them. If they avoid the breeze, move the fan farther away. Also, I think sometimes the chicks go under the hot plate because they feel safer with a roof over them. Give them another roof and see if anything changes.

 

[Minnesota Joe]

Northern Minnesota. Now in September daytime highs 50-70F, night time mid 40sF. By November we will snowstorms daytime highs 30s, night time lows can get down to negative -10 -20 F. Well insulated coop. For years I've used supplemental heat with radiant oil filler heater. Winter coop temp for laying hens using a thermo cube 35-45F Well secured heater netting covered proper ventilation ect. Please let's not debate coop heating.
I've always raised Spring hatched chicks. My first time fall raising. My Sapphire Gem pullet chicks were hatched late August. They're almost 3 weeks old. Brooder temps I know well. So as they grow out of the brooder, they will be moved to my 4' wide 12' long 6 1/2' tall coop. To start they will be in a 4'x6' section. Coop will be heated. What is the ideal coop temperatures---- October 1st they will be 6 weeks old and November 1st age 9-10 weeks old?
Thanks
Jerry