Do i really need a heat lamp?

[Demidog]

It's hot here (Macedonia, South Eastern Europe) Over 30 degrees outside now and we're sleeping with just a thin blanket. My father-in-law said we don't need a heat lamp for the chicks now because it's summer and it's really hot. I'm keeping my 10 day old chicks in the bathroom and it's 25 degrees in there. They don't look like they're cold, they're not huddling together or anything. I took the heat lamp off because it was too hot for them and i'm paranoid it over heats the chicks or starts a fire! But i made a nest for them from some hay to help keep them warm at night and i'm covering them with a blanket at night also. They look fine, is that alright?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are they making a lot of loud, distressed cheeping sounds?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Likely.

A smaller wattage bulb of some kind, say 40 watt or 60 watt, would also provide a touch of added warmth, in the nighttime, if you wish. Heat lamps often are infra red and put out a huge, 250 watts. At least those in our area do. Too much for summer time brooding. While I do not provide "nothing", I do reduce the supplemental heat dramatically in hot weather. After 3 weeks, they're usually good to go without any supplemental heat at all.

 

[aoxa]

Not with 30 degree heat at 10 days. They will be fine without any heat. At night you may want to take the edge off if it goes down bellow 20.

We are talking Celsius I assume.

 

[Demidog]

They cheep for a bit then quiet down. They don't sound distressed.

 

[Gayleyy]

Probably not a bad idea, chicks during the second week should be kept at 90F/32C, then down 5 degrees each week until you move them outside at 4-5 weeks old. If you are keeping them in a bathroom that is only 25C/77F that is too cool IMO.

 

[farmerjohn65]

Thermometer 40.5°c first week then drop temp .5°c each week to acclimate to outside temp especially at night

 

[farmerjohn65]

Thats not right 105°f first week droping 5°f each week (my first post)

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
I agree with aoxa.
They should be fine as aoxa says.
Best,
Karen in Pennsylvania, USA

 

[aoxa]

Probably not a bad idea, chicks during the second week should be kept at 90F/32C, then down 5 degrees each week until you move them outside at 4-5 weeks old. If you are keeping them in a bathroom that is only 25C/77F that is too cool IMO.

I have never kept my chicks any higher than 90F. I don't measure the heat any longer - because I use EcoGlows, but this is what I did when I used heat lamps. However, at 3 weeks they are completely off heat here. If I go by what you say, they should be at 80F at week 3. They are at 70F, and around 50 at night.

I've raised roughly 200 chicks this year. I've hatched 1500.

I am not sure where everyone gets this 95F temp. I have always been told 90 or whatever they seem comfortable at. There is no magic number. Monitor them. If they seem cold, add more heat. If they seem hot, take it away.

My chickens are Canadian. 85-90F seems where they are the most comfortable at a day old. 80-85F for week olds. 70-80 for two week olds, and by 3 weeks they don't have anything in the summer.

Chicks aren't as delicate as they are made out.


This pic is taken February 22nd 2013. These chicks were roughly 6 weeks old. I hardened them off in the basement by leaving the window open. They were out without any heat in freezing temps. All are adults now. They do just fine. The EcoGlows were removed when they were 4 weeks.