First Chicks, First Day

[AnchoredHomestead]

Brought home 5 Buff Orpingtons this morning. They are all eating, drinking and pooing fine. No pasty butt. We have the Producers Pride brooding plate…at an angle; the back was the lowest setting, the front at the middle setting. Three have been chirping for a bit so I temped under the plate and it read 125, but that was in the plate itself so considering it’s radiant heat they aren’t getting that temp correct? I raised each side a notch and they e calmed down a bit. I suppose I need reassurance that the plate is fine and they’ll come out if too hot and also reassurance as to whether it’s normal for them to chirp a ton. Help out a new momma! TIA

 

[azygous]

If the chicks are chirping loudly and relentlessly, there is something going on you need to figure out. Quiet chicks are happy chicks. Loud chicks are complaining about something not being right in their world.

If chicks are too cold, you will see them clumping together or stretching to make contact with the underside of the heat plate. Contented chicks will flop down and sleep wherever they happen to be when they get sleepy.

Lay a thermometer on the floor under the heat plate. It should be around 85F there. What is the brand name of the unit? Some have had high heat issues and risk burning the chicks if they make contact with it. Tissue burns starting at around 110F.

 

[AnchoredHomestead]

If the chicks are chirping loudly and relentlessly, there is something going on you need to figure out. Quiet chicks are happy chicks. Loud chicks are complaining about something not being right in their world.

If chicks are too cold, you will see them clumping together or stretching to make contact with the underside of the heat plate. Contented chicks will flop down and sleep wherever they happen to be when they get sleepy.

Lay a thermometer on the floor under the heat plate. It should be around 85F there. What is the brand name of the unit? Some have had high heat issues and risk burning the chicks if they make contact with it. Tissue burns starting at around 110F.

Producers Pride is the brooder plate brand name from TSC. The thermometer reads 84 on the ground under the plate. I lowered the entire plate and now they’re quieter. For sure there is one that is louder but no apparent issues. Been eating, drinking both plain water and electrolyte water. Will watch and see if they get sleepy and calm down. TY!