First time for chicks for me. One day old BO's arrive tomorrow. I have another temperature question about brooders. I have stabilized the temperature under the lamp at 95F. But it is just 70F at the edges. The brooder is oval 2feet x 4feet. Are the cooler edges a problem or will the chicks be smart enough to cover the distance to get back under the lamp when they want to be warm?
I agree with suzyq. So long as they have a nice warm area where they can congregate, they'll be good. Just make sure they can all fit into the warm spot. Last year we brooded our BOs inside the house, in a stock tank. This year we had a Mama bird hatch them out outside. Those babies, when they were two days old, would come out from under her and run around in the 40 degree weather. When they got cold, they'd zoom back under Mama's feathers. Your babies will know to keep themselves warm by finding that sweet spot under your lamp when they need it. The first few days that will probably be their favorite spot!
