Brooding 2 week-old bantams in basement.

[thecatumbrella]

My basement's around 54-55 degrees F. I started bringing the chicks down for field trips at 11 days-old. Hoping they can manage full time at 15 days-old.

We use a heat plate. It keeps that shavings beneath it at 70-80 degrees (top of plate is between 107-120 degrees, depending on model). The higher numbers are for my 16x24 plate, which is in there now. Naturally, they spend a lot more time under the plate downstairs than upstairs (where the ambient temp is 64-66 degrees F).

They eat. They drink. They are dead quiet under the plate. Am I good? Their dander is just too insane to stay upstairs any longer. My large fowl chicks transitioned to the basement at 10 days old, no problems, but the basement was probably closer to 58 degrees in late May.

Only thing I'm noticing is that they need a little more encouragement to come out at times. The heating plate is way too big, but they're outgrowing the 10x10 and my 12x12 can't keep temp down there for some reason. We're planning to build a larger brooder this weekend and get the plate oriented properly. Photo of my temp setup below.

Thoughts and criticisms welcome. Bantams have a bit of a learning curve!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They are perfectly fine. I brood 1 day old chicks out in my unheated barn with a heat plate. Chicks only need a spot to warm up they do not need to be kept warm 24/7. Chicks having a spot to cool down is just as important as a spot to stay warm. I have very hardy healthy chicks that grow into very hardy healthy chickens zero health issues.

 

[hollandhens24]

My basement's around 54-55 degrees F. I started bringing the chicks down for field trips at 11 days-old. Hoping they can manage full time at 15 days-old.

We use a heat plate. It keeps that shavings beneath it at 70-80 degrees (top of plate is between 107-120 degrees, depending on model). The higher numbers are for my 16x24 plate, which is in there now. Naturally, they spend a lot more time under the plate downstairs than upstairs (where the ambient temp is 64-66 degrees F).

They eat. They drink. They are dead quiet under the plate. Am I good? Their dander is just too insane to stay upstairs any longer. My large fowl chicks transitioned to the basement at 10 days old, no problems, but the basement was probably closer to 58 degrees in late May.

Only thing I'm noticing is that they need a little more encouragement to come out at times. The heating plate is way too big, but they're outgrowing the 10x10 and my 12x12 can't keep temp down there for some reason. We're planning to build a larger brooder this weekend and get the plate oriented properly. Photo of my temp setup below.

Thoughts and criticisms welcome. Bantams have a bit of a learning curve!

View attachment 4093186

I keep my house 65 degrees F and my basement is probably very close in temperature to yours. I provided heat to my chicks for 3 weeks before weaning them off of the heat lamp. I read some mixed reviews of people saying this can help them to feather out faster. They are perfectly healthy and happy, at first they snuggled when cold, and are now 4 weeks old and spend most of the day outside in 55-65 degree weather (we did hit 70 one random day) and then come inside at night since outdoor temperatures drop into the 30's at night. I think your chicks are probably more than ok, especially with the provided heat and ability to snuggle together.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Update: They did outstanding and have been downstairs full-time for almost five days. Little more time under the heat plate up front, but now they're old pros and spend most of their time trashing the place.

Thanks to everyone for the reassure.