Chicks without a heat lamp

[Lilah004]

I have 5 store bought babies (I finally found two of the breeds I love!) And it's 84f outside right now. These babies are a week or less old, but even with the heat lamp, I feel like they'd be fine out in the coop (with lots of bedding). We have a heat lamp and I'm fussed still thinking they aren't warm enough! It has been a long time since I had babies and the two ameracauna pullets are so much more lethargic than the cochins. I have 11 more ameracauna eggs in an incubator due in two weeks (should get them candled tomorrow). I mean, it was late when we got home and settled everyone, so maybe they're just tired? They look like little limp rags.

I'll have a thermometer in the brooder tomorrow night and they'll be in a crate in the coop with my 5 week silkies during the day tomorrow. This is August in Texas. Surely they won't need the heat lamp long?

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
I put a couple day old quail outside with no heat.

It's hot here...you will overheat them with a heat lamp.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I agree totally with KiKi they will be fine

 

[wyoDreamer]

I got some chicks from Tractor Supply last weekend, they are just starting to get tiny little tail feathers and wing feathers so they are just days old. I have them out in the barn. The first 2 nights they all gathered in to a corner and slept without a peep. The last 2 nights they were peeping so I added a heat plate to the brooder for them to sleep on - and they did use it. This morning they were on the heat plate, dash out for a bit to eat, run around and go back to the heat plate.
I don't go by temps, I go by peeping. If they are distressed, you will hear it in the peeps.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

I have 4 week old chicks that hatched with my broody hen. She had them outside foraging around day 4 and daily since then here in MI, where it can get hot during the day but nights have been 50-65 degrees. They do still sleep with mom in a crate at night. They were out this a.m. in the wet grass and it was 49 degrees. I think chicks are heartier than most people think, just have a back up heat source if they seem distressed.

 

[wyoDreamer]

By the way, my brooder is out in the barn.
The 9 week old kittens sure do want to know what is making that lovely sound! lol

 

[Lilah004]

Thanks guys! They're nearly a week now and the lows are in the 80s, so I'm feeling better about leaving them in the unheated coop now.

I put a dog crate in the coop (which has my three 6 week old silkies) and put hardware cloth around the bottom of the crate. Evidently I didn't secure it very well because the tiny girls escaped and were harassing my poor silkie babies!

 

[Kiki]

Don't stress about it being 80. That is perfect!