Chicks not following the rules.

[homesteadmomma]

This relates to all 48 of my chicks ranging in age from 26 five day olds, 16 three week olds, and 6 six weeks olds. But the ones I'm most irritated with are the newest group that arrived from the hatchery on Friday. I was a bit nervous about getting new babies, as I posted before last Thursday. But luckily, I had no losses and all 26 were happy and healthy and starving! I had the brooder set at 95 and had their food and water waiting for them. Only one needed help finding the water, and no pasty butt as of yet, I'm cautiously optimistic at this point. My biggest concern in the temperature of the brooder. Directly under the light the first day was 93-95 degrees. However, all were trying to get as far away as possible so I raised it a couple inches and got it down to around 88-90 degrees. Before bed I went to check on them and still trying to get away from the light. I figured the thermometer was off, but all three I tried were reading within a degree. So I raised it up another couple inches and when I checked in the morning all are still at the far end of the light. Raised again and now it's hovering around 80-81 and they all seem very content. They are sleeping in little groups of two or three spread around the outside of where the light is. My biggest question is...is this normal for such young chicks to be at such a low temperature? I don't want them freezing but I also didn't want to cook them. ARGH! No one is peeping and everyone is eating, drinking, and pooping, and tormenting each other.

On a side note, my three week olds are down to a 30 watt bulb just at night, and seem pretty happy. And the six week olds are outside enjoying their new brooder converted to tractor with a few cattle panels and some hardware cloth. They are becoming extremely friendly and love to sit on my lap and jump on my arm. This is a huge difference from two weeks ago when they would nearly try to go through the wall of the brooder when feeding, watering, or cleaning.

Sorry for the long story...I really just had the question above, but my husband is away on a hunting trip and I didn't have anyone to tell about the chicks. LOL

 

[white01]

i use a red light for mine, it seemed to work better then the white light, i think mine didnt like the bright lights, just a suggestion...

 

[suburbanchickymama]

Mine are 9/10 days old and I had to lower their temp, too. Doing the same thing as yours. So it's about 85 in there now, so not quite as extreme as your guys. But they are doing great and so I haven't worried about it too much! I think trusting how they act is probably the way to go over a chart. That's what I'm doing anyway so I hope so!!! Good luck! That is a lot of chicks!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Imp]

I haven't brooded many chicks, but the 3 I have now seem to like it cooler. The only time they go under the heat lamp is at night when I turn down the heat in the house.

Imp

 

[ginormous chicken]

I wouldn't worry too much. If your youngest chickens are a couple days old your warmest spot should be 95. That doesn't mean every single chick will stay at the 95 degree area. Chicks self regulate. It is a little abnormal you don't have a couple in the warmer areas, but most chicks make their own decision on where they think it is warm. They will sleep where they think is the warmest spot. It might be close to the light, it might not be. As long as they are not over heating, I think you are fine. Some chicks don't like the red light too, so that might turn them off to laying directly in the light. Don't worry, if they aren't panting or shivering, you are doing fine!

 

[LizaBlue]

we just got our first batch of chicks Wednesday and ours don't like the heat either, lol . like you, I tried to get things set at the 95 temp, and those little boogers just hated it! we have black Austrolorps and barred rocks and they seem much happier between 85-90. now all I hear are quiet bursts of chatter when they decide to eat or step on each other instead of the constant shrill complaints at the higher temps.

 

[homesteadmomma]

Mine are barred rocks as well. Wonder if it's because they are typically a pretty good cold weather chicken? Mine absolutely love diving onto the sleeping groups. They had a fight over a macaroni noodle that my youngest dropped in there. None ate it, but they had a good time chasing each other around and stealing it from whoever had it. They are a hoot to watch and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to handle not having chicks in the living room after these storms pass through....the oldest are moving to the coop, then the 3 week olds will be moving to the outdoor brooder that the older ones are in now with a door to the temporary run if they want to go outside and wander. With 26 in the brooder inside now, I'm sure it won't be long until they are forced outside as well. I never set up brooders with the idea of having more than 6 or 8 chicks in them. I should have joined this forum before I bought chicks LOL

 

[Aemelia]

I have read a lot of stuff and many chicken people say to go by behavior more than temp. If they are happy eating, drinking, moving in and out of the heat and not being really loud they are happy and to go with it. Mine get REALLY loud when they are cold and they shiver and bunch up.

 

[TouchO'Lass]

Raised again and now it's hovering around 80-81 and they all seem very content. They are sleeping in little groups of two or three spread around the outside of where the light is. My biggest question is...is this normal for such young chicks to be at such a low temperature?

Mine did the very same thing. I spent DAYS trying to find just the right height for the 125W bulb, etc, then they got here and were happiest at 82-84.??

I gave them a lecture about not having read the 'manual' and just let 'em be!

Like all have said, if they're eating, poopin, drinkin' and seem content, who am I too argue!​

 

[jossanne]

Quote:
I used a thermometer in my very first brooder, but never again. The number on the thermometer didn't seem to make a difference to the babies. I just go by the chicks' behavior. Like the above posts have said, if they are huddled under the light they are cold so I lower it a bit. If they are all hiding in the shadow of the feeder/waterer I raise it. They'll put themselves where they're most comfortable. Ideally they should be fairly spread out and not need to clump together too much.