Brooder Temp Control

[Home on the Stead]

Our baby chicks have been here about a week now, and it's time to lower the temp by 5 degrees according to everything I've read.

I have the chicks out in the coop. It's well insulated, dry, and draft free. The heat lamp is low enough that directly under it it's about 100 degrees (although they pecked the thermometer and broke it on the second day so I'm just assuming it hasn't changed). The corners of the coop have gotten as low as 50 degrees on our coldest night so far. Here's my question:

Since they come and go under the light as they need to, should I raise the light a little at this point or leave it where it is, and raise it when they start getting big enough to singe themselves assuming they'll self adjust the temperature?

I'm tempted to leave it and let them decide how warm they want to be. Any thoughts/ experience on this? It's our first time with chicks so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[doodledoo]

If there is enough room in your brooder for them all to get away from the heat then I would leave it alone (for the chilly nights). If the chicks are never getting directly under the heat, even at night, then I would raise it a little.