First time brooding, how am I doing?

[Susanhen]

Hey all, I've been keeping hens for a year now and decided to try my hand at raising chicks. I set up my brooder in my sliding glass door bathtub. Temp directly under the lamp is 98 degrees, at the far end its mid 70's. Picked up 5 Dominique's and an Ameraucana this morning. It's been 8 hours and so far so good, anything that looks like it may need changed?

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Looks good to me!

 

[jstanard]

Look happy. Not huddled right under heat. Good job!

 

[lazy gardener]

They look good. I think I'd move the water and feed down to the far end in a day or so. I'd also drop the temp under the lamp down to 90 - 95 tomorrow, and keep it around 90 for the rest of the first week. They'll let you know if they get cold. IMO the 90 - 95 the first week and dropping 5*/week is far too conservative. They can, and most likely will do better with a bit less heat. You can also start weaning them off from heat in the second week. Turn the lamp off for a bit each day. They will let you know if they are cold. By 3 weeks, they very well may not need any heat at all inside during the day.

 

[Susanhen]

They look good. I think I'd move the water and feed down to the far end in a day or so. I'd also drop the temp under the lamp down to 90 - 95 tomorrow, and keep it around 90 for the rest of the first week. They'll let you know if they get cold. IMO the 90 - 95 the first week and dropping 5*/week is far too conservative. They can, and most likely will do better with a bit less heat. You can also start weaning them off from heat in the second week. Turn the lamp off for a bit each day. They will let you know if they are cold. By 3 weeks, they very well may not need any heat at all inside during the day.

Thanks for the feedback! I planned on moving the water and food down once I was sure they understood what to do with it. They've been regulating their heat very well, often napping in a semicircle 6 inches or so from the center of the hot spot

. Will play with the lamp distance tomorrow.