chicks are huddling?

[GE OBrien]

I have 28 chicks that are about a week old. Have a red heat light suspended about 18 inches above the brooder. Chicks seem to wnt to huddle over in the corner. I have tried turning the lamp on or off. I makes no difference to them. So what do you all think about this huddling? Oh, they are in my A/C controlled office at 72 degrees?

 

[Offshoreorca]

I have 28 chicks that are about a week old. Have a red heat light suspended about 18 inches above the brooder. Chicks seem to wnt to huddle over in the corner. I have tried turning the lamp on or off. I makes no difference to them. So what do you all think about this huddling? Oh, they are in my A/C controlled office at 72 degrees?

Do they do this all the time or just when sleeping? If they disperse far away from where the lamp is, it's often an indicator of being too warm under the lamp. On the other hand if they're huddling directly under the heat source it means that they're too cold. With this in between you're observing, perhaps the heat lamp is not throwing enough heat for them? It would help to check the temperature under the light with a thermometer. Comfortable chicks will huddle to sleep, but should be moving around the brooder when they are awake.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

They are most likely cold. Lower the heat lamp a little, that should help.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How big is the brooder? Is the heat only on one side?

 

[CatsandCrops]

Are they huddling under the heat lamp or out of the light? If its under the heat lamp - I would move it lower or getting a higher watt bulb because they may still be too cold (week old chicks should be in the 90s temp wise). If it's out of the light but huddled together - I would say the light is too hot, but the "dark" areas are too cold so they are huddled together trying to find juuuust the right temp

 

[chickens really]

Only heat one side of the Brooder and ensure they have adequate space. Place feed and water on the cooler side.