Chicks Don't Get the Mama Pad (or, how to deal with a meanie)

[galaga6846]

Edited

I just got 4 babies today. They're stressed, pecking each other, chirping a lot. They don't seem to understand the Mama Pad. The temp of the Mama Pad where their backs would touch is 100-105°. It's around 80° in the other part of the brooder near the food and water. It's curved in a cave shape, and is low enough to touch their backs. I'll put them under the pad and they will settle down, but then they make their way out and the chaos begins again. Is there any way I can ensure that they understand where to go for warmth?

I'm editing this to explain that I think the culprit the whole time has been a particularly bullying chick who keeps pecking at the others. When I remove her, the other's peacefully go under the Mama Pad and are calm and quiet. When I bring her back the rest are trying to get away from her. I put her in jail for now.

 

[Huntmaster]

How old are your chicks?

 

[galaga6846]

How old are your chicks?

Born yesterday

 

[mn farm gal]

I placed a puppy pad over the top of mine, it draped down over the sides and back. With it being open in the front i think they felt more secure.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Is there a way to turn the pad down? 105 seems WAY high and that’s probably why they won’t go in it. I don’t think the issue is them not understanding it; I think it’s them roasting under there! So then they come out but there isn’t another heat source. I would try turning it down if you can. Also, of course, make sure they have food and water, etc. but I think it’s too hot

 

[Battlepants]

When they leave the pad, are they going elsewhere to huddle for warmth? Or just running about being crazy/eating/drinking/playing/ect? If the latter, I would say let them tire themselves out a bit and cool off. They may seek out heat when they are ready to calm down.

I would agree with the others that the temperature does seem a bit high. If you can't turn the temperature down, are you able to elevate it a bit so they get less of the direct heat?

 

[galaga6846]

When they leave the pad, are they going elsewhere to huddle for warmth? Or just running about being crazy/eating/drinking/playing/ect? If the latter, I would say let them tire themselves out a bit and cool off. They may seek out heat when they are ready to calm down.

I would agree with the others that the temperature does seem a bit high. If you can't turn the temperature down, are you able to elevate it a bit so they get less of the direct heat?

The literature I've read said 105° the first day-week. They're under it now and calm. The problem seems to stem from a particularly aggressive Buff Orpington that keeps pecking everyone and chasing them out! I am holding her now, and everyone else is calmly sleeping under the pad. Ironically, she was the extra chick
.

 

[Painted Calls]

I don't know where you're reading your literature, but 105 is way too hot. 95 is the absolute highest you need.

Temp isn't that high when you hatch them. Why on earth would they need it even hotter afterward? No. Bad literature for sure.

I don't even heat to 95F in the warm side. I keep it around 90ish the first few days and then start dropping it a degree or two every 5 days to a week.

 

[Kiki]

The literature I've read said 105° the first day-week. They're under it now and calm. The problem seems to stem from a particularly aggressive Buff Orpington that keeps pecking everyone and chasing them out! I am holding her now, and everyone else is calmly sleeping under the pad. Ironically, she was the extra chick
.

Link or pictures of said literature, please?
I hatched out tiny quail chicks last week. The temp in their brooder, at the hottest spot, was only 85° on their first day of life.
95 degrees is too hot in my opinion.
105 is ridiculous. If you are keeping your chicks at 105° you will most likely kill them.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

I agree that 105F sounds way too warm. Chickens can't regulate their body temperature like humans do -- they spread their wings, pant with their beaks open, and channel blood flow to their legs, combs, and wattles to cool off. Baby chicks, however, are pure fuzz and don't have large enough facial flappies for that to be an effective cooling method, so they just huddle when they're cold and spread out when they're too hot -- it's all that they can do.
I never measured my brooder's exact temperature, but I would most certainly turn it down from 105F by at least ten or fifteen degrees. Happy chicks are neither spread out all over the brooder and panting nor huddled right underneath the warmest spot in a shivering pile -- they might pile up to nap, but otherwise should be running around and chirping like tiny sentient electrons.