Chicks all piled up?

[MN Chicken]

My thermometer reads 95 directly under the light, and my almost 2 week olds are in the basement that is about 66 degrees. When I go down to check on them at night, they are all in a tiny pile directly under the light. During the day the temp reads about 85 and they walk all over the bin, even the unheated side. Are they just cuddly sleepers? Can you tell I am new to chicks? I am reading Storey's Raising Chickens and trying to get caught up...so bear with me

I just wanted to know if I need to keep it warmer than 95 even though they ae fine during the day and are just about 2 weeks old.

 

[NonnasBabies]

They will cuddle like that when their sleeping!!

Missi

 

[nanawendy]

As far as I understand, never more than 95...but you might need 2 lights. Experts?????

 

[Kittymomma]

If they're just cuddled up loosely under the light you're probably ok, but if they're piled up tightly I'd add another light overnight.

ETA: If you have any drafts down there it can feel/be colder then what the thermometer says. We all know how wind chill can make an otherwise lovely spring day feel like we're headed back into winter.

 

[MN Chicken]

They are laying down wing to wing with their heads together....is that tight? Why are they fine at 80-85 in the day, but huddled in 95 at night? Chickens are funny. I assumed they were cuddling because they all seem so bonded to each other. I hope the new day olds I have coming in 5 days bond with them as well!

 

[MN Chicken]

Quote:
I don't think it is drafty...it is a finished basement and they are in a closed 10 X 10 bedroom. Do you think that could be drafty? I did take the half bin cover off to replace it with hardware cloth today, should I cover half again over the wire?

 

[kathyinmo]

You say they are nearly 2 weeks old. Recommendation is 95* for week one, 90* week two, 85* week three, etc.

Be sure there is a cooler area they can retreat to, in case they are too hot.

 

[MN Chicken]

Quote:
I have them in a 45 gallon storage bin. The light I have pointed to only one corner. They are 10-12 days old, and today I decreased the temp to 85 during the day. Is that good? They were all laying on the thermometer, so I don't know if it was genuinely 95 degrees or not. I am going to go back down to check again soon.

 

[MN Chicken]

I forgot to add...the breeder I got them from kept them on contact heat at 80 degrees to acclimate them to the MN cold faster, so she said to keep them at 80. That was 4 days ago, but I couldn't do it, so I went with 90 until today.

 

[Kittymomma]

It sounds like a good draft free spot for them. I'd cover 1/2 of the bin up and watch for a little while and see what they do. I don't keep a thermometer in my brooder, I just watch the chicks and let them be my guide to where the heat lamp hangs. I think you'll be fine though, they can handle temp. variations a lot better at 2 weeks then they can for that first week.