Brooder Question

[cluckcluckgirl]

I just got a batch of chicks that are maybe 3 days old. They're in a big brooder, with a heat lamp in one side of the brooder and the other side to serve as a place to go if they get too hot. By the heat lamp, it's reading about 90 degrees, slightly higher at times. I understand that a chick will move to where it feels the temperature is most comfortable, but is this too hot for them? If so, why don't they move to a cooler spot? They're not panting, and actually seem to be enjoying the warm temp in there, which all previous batches of chicks preferred a slightly cooler temp.

 

[donrae]

Nope, not too hot. Maybe a touch cool, even. A broody hen is a toasty 100 degrees.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Thank you!

I had the thermometer directly under the heat lamp at one point, and it was reading over 100 degrees there. They seem like some very sweet chicks and they have quite fun attacking the thermometer.