First Time for Mail Order Chicks

[Bladester]

Hi:

Yes, when you have new chicks you need to follow the following recommended temperature for chickens with a heat lamp or brooder heat plate:

• Hatch through Week 1 - 95 degrees F
• 1-2 Weeks - 90 Degrees F
• 2-3 Weeks - 85 Degrees F
• 3-4 Weeks - 80 Degrees F
• 4-5 Weeks - 75 Degrees F

Good Luck!

Cheers!

 

[TGinTX]

Thanks for all the responses. Mainly adding this in case someone was interested in how things turned out.
After a couple of hours Friday I was down to 8 surviving and by that night I noticed another that I didn't feel like was doing great. Intermittently I tried to make sure I saw or coaxed each to drink. In the morning the problem chick was alive still, and 2 more weren't as active as the other 5. I focused on these three about hourly and they would each drink a bit and even eat a bit each session but one kept standing holding its beak up in the air and sort of falling over. I had some weekend chores to complete so I left around noon and returned around 6:30 and all 3 had died. I really didn't think 2 of them were at risk at the point I left for the day.
I think the remaining ones will do fine - they are all significantly more energetic than the others were and no signs of problems for about 24 hours. All the ones that showed any signs of being lethargic when I was around died. I thought I was just seeing new chicks that sleep a lot since I was able to get them to drink and eat. I feel like the last 3 would still be alive if I stayed home and worked with them every hour or so, but I really thought 2 were stable.