Chickie brooder temp question

[cori1023]

Can someone post the temp the brooder needs to be weekly ?
We are at week 2 and I just want to make sure it's not too hot
TIA

 

[PorterPack]

I'm a fairly new chicken momma, but from what I've read on here you start your brooder at about 95*, then lower it 5* each week. Of course, let your babies tell you if they're comfortable- if they're too hot they'll stay far away from the heat lamp, if they're too cold they'll pile on top of each other. Hope this helps.....best wishes!

 

[cori1023]

Thanks when do they no longer need the lamp ?

 

[PorterPack]

From what I understand, they should be able to go without a heat source once the chicks are fully feathered, around 6-8 weeks. I have kinda spoiled my girls; I have 4 almost 5 week olds in a large dog crate inside the house. I have started turning off their heat source for a couple hours a day to try to wean them completely off before I put them outside. I'll be a nervous nilly when they go out in the coop for the first night lol!

 

[cori1023]

I think that's a great idea to wean them off the heat lamp.. I am with you on the nervous end too.. Thinking I may set up my sons old baby monitor so I can Liston in lol ... I kinda like them in the house

 

[lazy gardener]

You should work on weaning them from the lamp so that by the time they are fully feathered, (usually around 5 - 6 weeks.) they no longer have the lamp. The 5*/week is a very conservative measure.

 

[kjstanton]

I just bought a lamp in hopes to get my 4 chicks within a couple of weeks. What is the easiest way to set it up without having to keep checking on the temp and turning the lamp on and off?

 

[BarredR]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot get a dimmer switch for your heat lamp you can adjust your temp that way instead of having to adjust your lamp up or down. Make sure you have a thermometer at the bottom of your brooder under the lamps and room for your checks to get out of the heat. They will go to the lamps to warm themselves as needed.

 

[Blooie]

Or you could just do this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

Safer than heat lamp, chicks experience natural day/night cycles from the first day, feather out faster and they aren't traumatized by so many drastic changes when they go from brooder to coop. They already know to sleep all night through, less pasty butt because they aren't eating 24/7, and much much quieter. It's much more natural and more like a broody hen. They explore their surroundings, get some essential chilling, pop under for a quick warmup or if they get spooked, just like they do under a broody hen.You could even go one step further -

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

 

[MantyMimi12]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this or not, since you are talking about brooders and temperatures. I started my 4 chicks in a brooder in the house that they outgrew. Last week, when they were three weeks old, I moved them into a larger brooder in the garage, which I thought was going to be great! It was, until we hit a hot day last weekend. I ended up having to open the one screened window in the garage, the side door and the overhead door to get enough air flowing.

My husband I and both work, so we have to make temperature decisions in the morning. My general question is this: is it better for the chicks to be a little cooler, without a heat lamp to warm them, than it is for them to be hot and not have any air flow? They are two weeks out from moving to their coop, and I will be glad when that happens!

Thank you so much for your help!