Brooder Temps in Hawaii?

[adamussg]

Aloha. We are first time chick raisers. We have been lucky enough to attain 8 chicks and all are in their 2nd week with us. They are a mix breed 1/2 Rhode Island and 1/2 leghorn. They are currently kept in our garage in a 3ftx5ft brooder. They have a perch about 3 inches off the brooder floor, and a heat lamp. We are using pine Shavings and I often give them grass. Our average temp this time of year is about 80 degrees. The first week, they all stayed pretty close to the heat lamp, but not on top of each other so I know they were happy temperature wise... It's the 2nd week, and I moved the lamp a little further away and it seems like they aren't even interestedin the warmth anymore. They just plop down anywhere in the brooder and go to sleep. They dont seem cold because they aren't huddled against each other at all. Nighttime Temps are going down to about 70...so I assume they are using it late night, but without feathers, do they need a heat lamp during the day? Any answers/opinions would be much appreciated. I've read a lot of posts suggesting heat lamp tips.... But it rarely drops below 70 here in Hawaii, and they don't seem very cold at all.

 

[sourland]

Try turning the light off during the day and see how they react. If they huddle and vocalize, you will know that they are cold. You could also put a smaller bulb in your lamp and gradually wean them from heat.

 

[adamussg]

Thanks. Going to go from a 100w down to a 75w. They have a warm and a cool end so they should be okay. I've never seen this mix before and can't wait till all the feathers are in. I have no clue what they are going to look like!

 

[ozexpat]

Aloha

I hatch in the Philippines. Temps are 84 during the day and 74 at night.

I run a eighty watt light during the day for about ten days and at night for three weeks.

Good luck

 

[adamussg]

They're growing so fast!

 

[Mailichick]

I have an Easter egger, three leghorns and a RIR all around four weeks old. Around week two I turned off the lamp during the day. Week three, noticed they didn't really need it at night either. End of week three decided to kick them out of my house and into their nice new coop. They love it and they are handling the weather well. I live on the west side of Oahu.