Chicks Not Using Heat Lamp?

[jaymielynn]

Our chicks are about 4 1/2 weeks old and this morning when I went to check on them the tempurature in their brooding coop was 65 degrees and they were all sleeping on the opposite side of the coop from the heat lamp. Should I worry about them or should they be ok?

 

[hippiehen]

If they have moved away from the lamp it's usually because it is too warm for them. I never use a thermometer, just the chicks to tell you if they are too warm or too cold!

 

[jenni22776rn]

How much feathering do they have? Mine are just about 3 1/2 weeks and they almost never sleep under the heat lamp..last night I put it on because I was chilly, I came and checked on them and they all were on the other side of the brooder as far away from the heat as possible....so I would just watch them and if they seem like they are cold or huddled then try it..they may only need it at night...good luck!

 

[MeowCluckBark]

Since I only have 2 they are always piled on top of each other, be it near the lamp or far away. They took over my bathroom and refuse to use the brooder box. I put the light to face out on the floor for them and they msotly don't care. Sigh. My house is about 70 and in the bathroom its probably closer to 75ish. They are 4 weeks old and have lots of feathers. If that helps! I'm honestly thinking of turning the light off unless we get a chilly day.

 

[h8snags]

I wouldn't worry, I turned off my lamp at 4 weeks, they didn't want to sleep under it anymore, and they have almost all of their feathers. They are in my kitchen, so it doesn't get cold or drafty. They are still doing very well!

 

[suzeqf]

i switch to a regular 100 watt bulb a few weeks ago my big girls but since it's been getting warmer i just turned the light off all together and they seem to like it and they are 6 weeks old and almost fully feathered out their brooder is attached to the little ones brooder so if they get cool i usually find them watching chicken tv i have a wire window between the brooders so everyone can see each other and the heat lamp is fairly close to the window when i check on them at night the big girls are usually on their roost asleep or on the brooder floor asleep but come alive if i turn on the light so i usually just ck the temp of the little girls and make sure i don't have any escapees

 

[Inkheart]

Quote:
X2 i had stopped using a heat lamp and switched to a 100W and then a 75W - course mine were indoors - they are telling you that theydont need quite that much heat!

 

[jaymielynn]

Ok. Thank you all for the replies. They are kept in an indoor chicken coop which is made out of a room in my boyfriend shop. So there is no central heat or air which is the only reason I worried. They do have most of their feathers though.

 

[JRchickchick]

How hot is your heat lamp? You might switch to a 100 watt red bulb, especially at night when they aren't moving around so much and can cuddle for warmth under it. As they get real feathers, and the temperature outside gets more springlike, you might just keep it on at night. If they are in the shop, make sure they have bedding underneath them to keep out the cold a concrete floor can suck the heat right out of a body. Soon, it will be time for them to experience the great outdoors, and can maybe run back under the 100 watt bulb to warm up for naptime. (Ahhhh, naptime. It feels good at any age!)

More chicks will keep each other warm as well, if just a couple, then I wouldn't rush to eliminate the lamp. I think the recommendation is usually starting at 95 degrees, and then minus 5 degrees each week until it equalizes to the average temperature (in the coop or room, or outdoors), or their full feathers are all in, maybe 6-8 weeks.

I just moved my 2 week old chicks from inside brooder to outside mini-coop (not opened to outside yet, they need more feathers and we need sunnier days). I will miss their little peeps all day long, but can visit them to make sure the heat lamp is still working (and check on them at night too, it would be terrible if the lamp went out and I woke up to dead peeps.) I have a backup heat lamp bulb, just not enough space in the mini-coop to put two heat lamps.

 

[jaymielynn]

I will stop and get a 100 watt bulb on my way home from work. The room they are in we framed off to build a wall with chicken wire. Has a cute little screen door and everything. It's covered in about 2-3 inches of shavings. They have two roosting polls and two heat lamps. I will post pictures tonight and let you guys see it.