Do I need auxiliary heat?

[ksguy]

I'm picking up my first ever chicks this weekend (10 chicks). I don't know the exact hatch date but I believe they will be 6-8 days old when I pick them up.

I'm using a large Rubbermaid tote as a brooder, and it will be kept in the garage. Daytime temps around here have peaked in the low 90's the last few days, and the garage temp has reached right around 100 with doors and windows closed. If I open the east facing window and the north facing back door, the temp stays about 5 degrees above outdoor temp. Lows have been in the low 70's overnight. I haven't gotten up to check the temp in the garage in the middle of the night but when I leave for work in the mornings it's at least 10 degrees warmer than in the house, which we keep at 74.

Weather is forecast to be highs in the low 80's, lows in the upper 60's starting Saturday, climbing from there a degree or two a day over the next week or so. I'm expecting the garage to be around 90 in the daytime, not sure about nighttime, but if I keep it closed up (other than coming and going), I'd think it'd hold in at least the low 80's overnight.

My question is what kind of supplemental heat I should plan on, if any. I read that around 90 degrees is good for the 1 week age, but I don't know what to do for just a few degrees overnight. Then, when the temp gets higher and the chicks are bigger, how to keep them cool. Will a frozen milk jug in the brooder suffice?

 

[ksguy]

Update. Just heard from the breeder. Her birds were hatching from Tuesday 6/2 thru Sunday 6/7, so when I get them they'll be 6 to 11 days old.

 

[TheRambler]

Making a little cave with a heating pad on top works very well. Other options would be a regular 60-100w light bulb. Just observe them and make adjustments as needed, but definitely have some form of heat on hand in case its needed

 

[Ann Wellhouse]

I used a very large rubbermaid tote for my chicks for the first 3 weeks. I'm just a beginner at this but I don't think it is enough space. I had 6 chicks and they don't seem to have grown as well as the 4 I added later from the same hatch.

The additionals had a regular large brooder and they were fed the same food unlimited as mine were and mine were much smaller.

I switched to a cage that I built out of pvc pipe and chicken wire with a smaller heated tote on it's side inside of the cage. I wrapped the lower bottom third of the cage with several layers of cling wrap to keep the mess from going outside of the cage.

They are growing much better now.