Confused about Brooder temps

[flyladyrocks]

Hi there. We just got our chicks today. I am not sure what to do with the brooder temp. All but one is 3-4 days old - Now that I am looking at her Queen Elizabeth (who is already ruling the roost) I think is older, maybe a week from what I am reading. We were so excited when we got them that it never occurred to me that one might be older! I just knew they got a shipment 2 days ago.

Here is my dilemma, which is 2 fold:
1. I am having a hard time getting a temp between 85 and 100. A small shift of my heat lamp makes a huge difference. But I am not sure that matters b/c ...
2. Right now it is 85 according to my new thermometer - but even the 3-4 day old ones seem to be hot b/c they are laying in the shade of the feeder and waterer - they are huddled there so I am asking- are you girls cold over there? They will wander under the light for short periods of time but that is it.

So I don't know what to do tonight as we go to bed (which will be soon it is 9:30 PM here- I was like a kid on Christmas, awake at 4 AM excited about getting the Chicks. Actually, I never even did that on Christmas as a kid!) Will they be warm enough? Will they be too hot?? Am I stressing about this and over thinking it?

This is the best entertainment we have had for years! We are all huddled around the brooder mesmerized by them and their antics are continually cracking us up.

Meet our girls (from about 12:00 going clockwise)
1. Clara Oswald (son is a Dr. Who fan)
2. Queen Elizabeth
3. Nina
4. Rhonda
5. Rose Tyler (the other Dr. Who character)
6. Rhoda
Can you guess which ones my son named?

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[lightchick]

I think they'll be okay as long as they don't seem distressed.
(panting, holding wings away from body and seem stressed)

 

[flyladyrocks]

Thanks - they seem to be comfortably sleeping right now, so I think I can breath easy and go to bed.

 

[ShockValue]

I was obsessed about the temps for the first day or two, but after some coaching from folks here I kinda got how it works.

First and foremost is to make sure the brooder is large enough that they can escape the heat.
Then get the lamp so it's only warming 1 part of the brooder

The chicks from then on out will self-regulate. It seems like your chicks are already doing that if they go to the lamp for a bit, and then go and play.

If they're huddled (like fighting to get close and under each other) under the lamp, they're too cold.
If they've found the farthest point away from the lamp and are trying to keep their wings away from their body and/or have their mouths open - too hot.


Otherwise, relax. Have a glass of wine, watch the chicks for a while, and go to bed

 

[tridentk9]

Three Dr Who characters. Four? Both Queen Elizabeths were characters in Dr Who episodes.

 

[JekkaLynn]

Hi there. We just got our chicks today. I am not sure what to do with the brooder temp. All but one is 3-4 days old - Now that I am looking at her Queen Elizabeth (who is already ruling the roost) I think is older, maybe a week from what I am reading. We were so excited when we got them that it never occurred to me that one might be older! I just knew they got a shipment 2 days ago. Here is my dilemma, which is 2 fold: 1. I am having a hard time getting a temp between 85 and 100. A small shift of my heat lamp makes a huge difference. But I am not sure that matters b/c ... 2. Right now it is 85 according to my new thermometer - but even the 3-4 day old ones seem to be hot b/c they are laying in the shade of the feeder and waterer - they are huddled there so I am asking- are you girls cold over there? They will wander under the light for short periods of time but that is it. So I don't know what to do tonight as we go to bed (which will be soon it is 9:30 PM here- I was like a kid on Christmas, awake at 4 AM excited about getting the Chicks. Actually, I never even did that on Christmas as a kid!) Will they be warm enough? Will they be too hot?? Am I stressing about this and over thinking it? This is the best entertainment we have had for years! We are all huddled around the brooder mesmerized by them and their antics are continually cracking us up. Meet our girls (from about 12:00 going clockwise) 1. Clara Oswald (son is a Dr. Who fan) 2. Queen Elizabeth 3. Nina 4. Rhonda 5. Rose Tyler (the other Dr. Who character) 6. Rhoda Can you guess which ones my son named? Thanks in advance for your input!

Three Dr Who characters. Four? Both Queen Elizabeths were characters in Dr Who episodes.

I know totally off topic but......YAY DR. WHO!!!

 

[flyladyrocks]

Thanks for everyone's input - they do seem to be good at self regulating. They have not been panting or spreading out their wings. The lamp is at one end and it all seems to be working and they seem content.

TridentK9 and JekkaLynn -Technically Queen Elizabeth was named first, not by DS, and apart from Doctor Who, but we have not forgotten that both appear in Dr. Who Episodes (my son would not dare allow us to!).

 

[flyladyrocks]

One more thing - I now have a sudden urge to go watch Dr. Who. Watch the chicks or Dr. Who? Such difficult decisions!

 

[JekkaLynn]

Put a towel on you lap and bring a little bowl of water and a handful of food and bring a chick to watch Dr. Who with you.

 

[lightchick]

Put a towel on you lap and bring a little bowl of water and a handful of food and bring a chick to watch Dr. Who with you.

Yeah! You could do that! But make sure that you keep an eye on the chick! I can just picture it! You and your chick watching Dr.Who and then BOOM the chick is gone! Then you'll have to look all over the house.