Chicks not wanting to leave heat panel

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I generally put down quite layer of paper towels for the first few days to a week. They seem to eat whatever they see.

 

[AltonaAcres]

So I put down a hand towel under the heat panel with a small handful of crumbles on it. They are eating that instead of shavings now!! I also put the back legs shorter than the front one, so they can choose how warm they want to be. Thanks everyone for your help!!

 

[aart]

So I put down a hand towel under the heat panel with a small handful of crumbles on it. They are eating that instead of shavings now!! I also put the back legs shorter than the front one, so they can choose how warm they want to be. Thanks everyone for your help!!

Make sure to dip their beaks to get them drinking.

 

[AltonaAcres]

One last question...........how high should the heat panel be? Low enough it touches their back when they lie down? Tall enough they have stand up to touch their heads to it? It's my 1st time using one..........kind of nervous. Currently they have to stand up to touch their backs/heads to it. It is on max temp., and they seem to sleep for 30 seconds then stand up to warm themselves.

 

[aart]

One last question...........how high should the heat panel be? Low enough it touches their back when they lie down? Tall enough they have stand up to touch their heads to it? It's my 1st time using one..........kind of nervous. Currently they have to stand up to touch their backs/heads to it. It is on max temp., and they seem to sleep for 30 seconds then stand up to warm themselves.

Then maybe it should be lower.
It's takes some observation and adjusting for sure...
....if you have time for that, many people don't, so give up on the plates.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I do have time to observe them...however the plate adjusts in levels. One is way to low, they can't even move, and then there is the level I have it on now, and then the next level is obviously way to tall........I'll just keep watching

 

[aart]

I do have time to observe them...however the plate adjusts in levels. One is way to low, they can't even move, and then there is the level I have it on now, and then the next level is obviously way to tall........I'll just keep watching

Ah, that's a pain....why my DIY has long bolts for legs.
How far does it change?
Can you put something half that thick either under the legs or under the whole plate?
What brand plate do you have?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do have time to observe them...however the plate adjusts in levels. One is way to low, they can't even move, and then there is the level I have it on now, and then the next level is obviously way to tall........I'll just keep watching

I guess set 2 legs at "too low" and 2 at "too high" and use something like pieces of scrap wood if you have any to make minor adjustments. My guess is the chicks will choose to stay somewhere in between the two heights. Since they're very little you may find some will choose to hunker down and crawl under the very low section.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I just switched to heat lamp for now. I leave in a week so neighbors will be caring for them and i don't want hassle or adjusting. Next batch I'll try again.