chicks still up a midnight

[JesseTab]

I have been noticing that our chicks are still up at midnight. Is this normal? The room they are in is dark no lights we use a electric space heater to keep them warm temp is about 93. They are about 12 to 15 days old. We hear them chirping some night till 2 am.

 

[aart]

That's way too much heat at that age, they may be too hot.

 

[JesseTab]

Oh I thought from reading of course that they needed to be kept that war till they got their feathers at about 10 weeks old

 

[subhanalah]

By two weeks old, their hot area should be about 80 and they should have a place to access cooler temperatures.

 

[aart]

85F to 90F right under the light for the first few days, til they are eating, drinking and active....after that the cooler you keep them the faster they will feather out.

watch their behavior:
If they are piled up right under the light, they are too cold.
If they spread out to the very edges of the brooder as far from the light as possible, they are too hot.
If they run all around and rest near the light, they are just right.

I've found keeping them cooler they are healthier, more active, and feather out much faster.

 

[JesseTab]

Thank you for your replies. This is our first time with chicks and are very green at what to do.

 

[aart]

Thank you for your replies. This is our first time with chicks and are very green at what to do.

There's a lot to learn, it's pretty simple once you know how but can be mind boggling at first.

Try doing some reading on the Raising Baby Chicks forum too, you'll learn a lot.