Day old Austrolorps, panting until 80 F

[oldcircusbread]

So I read everywhere online to have the temp be at 90-95, and to reduce by 5 degrees every week as they grow.

Right away at 95 F, we noticed them trying to get away from the heat lamp and clumping up away but also panting so then reduced the heat to 90 by moving the bulb away. Still panting. Gave em 10 minutes for heat to equalize. Still panting. Dropped to 85 F for 10 minute. Still panting.

So dropped to 80 F. Stopped panting and went right to sleep. Kept showing water. They drank on their own in midst of all this.

They're supposed to be two days old (day old at feed store, a day to acclimate).

They're black chicks (Austrolorps) and we've been searching but can't find specific temp info for black chicks or Austrolorp chicks.

We did see in panting chick forums people said to provide some shade (we're using a small galvanized livestock tub and so they can't really get away from the bulb), so I created artificial shade with a couple boards to deflect the radiant heat if they want to avoid it and it appears thus far they like this set up. I nervously spent a half hour watching them sleep thinking they were laying down to die. Lol.

I think they're okay now. But is 80 F ok? As long as they're not panting?

Are we safe at 80F since they stopped panting?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always start at around 85 degrees. You are using what looks like a 250 watt bulb, which you may want to change to a lower watt, and you are brooding in a smaller metal brooder which will hold heat. Definitely pay attention to the birds reactions foremost.

You will need a bigger brooder pretty quickly.