Brooder Temperature issues.

[studebakerchick]

My chicks arrived today and im having a hard time keeping the temp in my brooder right at 95 degrees. Its going from about 93-99 will the fluctuation
In temperature cause an issue? Theyre very lively and not huddled together so im thinking theyre fine but just want to make sure. I have three blk austrolorps, 3 buff orpingtons and 2 americaunas. They came from new mexico all the way to oregon. Theyre eating and drinking just fine as well. Thanks

 

[realsis]

congratulations! I would think that would be fine. you should have One warm side and One cool side so they can move about as they wish from the warmth to the cool. As long as the temperature does not fluctuate to Above recommended 95 they should be alright. Then Drop the tempature each week by 5 degrees. Until they are room temp and no longer need the heat lamp.

 

[studebakerchick]

Great thanks. This is my first time raising chicks and im a little nervous im going to mess up. they have plenty of room to move away from the light into the cooler side of the brooder. I just really dont want to have them freeze or get cooked. Thanks again

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I go by the chicks behavior after my initial setting, grouping and loud peeping means they are unhappy, everyone scattered and quietly doing their own thing means they are comfortable. Congratulations on you new babies, a nice selection, and some of my favorite breeds.

 

[azygous]

Those temperature guidelines seem a tad on the hot side to me, and my baby chicks tend to agree. I brought some day-olds home a few years back and plopped them into the brooder under a heat lamp I had calibrated to exactly 95F. Even though they had plenty of room, they were panting, and acting very uncomfortable.

I raised the light so the temp directly beneath the lamp was 85F. But it was still too hot because the lamp was heating the entire brooder, so I swapped the 250 watt lamp for a 100 watt incandescent bulb and produced at temp under the light of 85 and the rest of the brooder was much cooler. That was exactly what they preferred. Since then, I started out all my new chicks at 85 instead of the recommended 95, and since then, I've learned that you want to brood your chicks at the coolest temperature you can and still have them behave normally.

The reason for erring on the cool side is that chicks are a lot less likely to develop heat related issues if you can keep the brooder on the cool side while still giving them a warm zone under which to warm themselves.

But the very best way to insure the best heat for your chicks is with the heating pad system. It's virtually fool-proof. Read about it on the forum in the thread, "Mama Heating Pad for the Brooder".

 

[donrae]

Your temp range sounds pretty good. Being this young, I would have it a touch warmer than cooler, as long as they can get completely out from under the heat to ambient temperature. Chicks are great at self regulating their temperature as long as they have enough space. They'll also get quite vocal if something isn't to their liking

so just keep an eye and ear on them and take your cues from their behavior.

 

[studebakerchick]

I will look into the heating pad. Right now im just using a 100 watt lightbulb and right under the light the temp is reading about 98. Im using a large dog crate for my brooder and with only 8 chicks they have plenty of room to get away from the light. Theyre a very lively bunch, not loud but definatley having fun running around. Thanks for all your input.