Chick doing some hardcore panting and deep breaths

[yourhighness]

I adjusted the light for the first-week-change (they're one week old as of a few hours from now), but one chick is panting her bottom off. If she's hot, she won't stop hanging out underneath the light, and she knows how to drink and I've even dipped her beak in a few times. I'm probably beating a dead horse by asking this question, but what else could be the problem?

EDIT: Add heavy breathing to the equation, her head is just a'bobbin like McFerrin with all the deep breaths.

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

Not sure about why she won't get out from under the light, but I will tell you that my chicks liked it a quite a bit cooler than the recommended temps & have all thrived every year. I have an easy-2-read digital thermometer in there w/ them all the time, so could easily keep an eye on it. They liked high eighties the first week, about 87, & then i just adjusted it according to their reactions. I didn't go by the time line really either. Just went by the chicks. They should be moving freely around the container, not clustered up , nor pushed against the sides looking to get away from heat source. Smart to dip beaks. I do it any time I change container or location of water, like when they get big & I put them in outdoor quarters, etc. Maybe it's stuffy in there? I use plastic totes, & they can get humid if not given enough ventilation. I hope some of this helps. Oh, yeah, & if you haven't already, get a RED light instead of white. My birds were pecking away @ the little curly red feathers of my frizzle until someone on here suggested that. I was told that they are attracted to red (that's why a bird with a red bobo keeps getting picked on) but can't distinguish it under red lamp. That might be an ounce of prevention. Good luck!

 

[yourhighness]

Thanks for the reply. These girls stick it out underneath the light no matter how i adjust it, and just don't want to hang out towards the lightless side. I'm using a plastic tub too, so perhaps i should poke some holes?

Ah, this little one worries me.

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

If could post a pic of your brooder I could see what suggestions might help. When mine are really little, I use a med. tote w/ a shadeless lamp angled in, & the lid cocked up & covered w/ a towel. I adjust the cover to allow more or less airflow. I use like a regular 60 or 40 watt bulb. Really simple, but works well. Later, we move them up to a bigger clear jumbo tote, using the same method, but the temp's lower, as the space is bigger. This year I went kinda nuts on the chicks, so I made a huge brooder out of a pallet/box that was used to hold flagstone that a friend was using for construction. I laid a heavy duty clear shower curtain across the top, dangled my trusty lamp w/ 60 watt in there ( secured w/ good ole duct tape - yeehaw!) & they are loving the space! I was even able to able to put a baby gate in there to separate it into 2 sides w/ my widdle-biddies on the side w/ the lamp, & the other had the 3-4 week olds. It worked awesome! They are all comfy & no need for multiple brooders. Once again, I can fold back curtain to allow heat to escape if needed. I guess you could try making some kind of barrier so that she can't get too close to the light & then she might figure it out? Hmmm. Hopefully she's doing alright.

Ps- your rainbow-puking panda avatar is odd, but I like it!!!