First time raising chicks, outdoor brooder temps?

[kunsangsean]

Hey all,

I got 7 day old chicks for my broody hen to adopt, but adopt them she did not. So I'm raising my first batch of chicks! I had a Brinsea ecoglow brooder plate just in case, and I setup a brooder inside with them under that. They've been doing well, and no light on at night. They are 2 weeks old now, and the dust and smell is getting a bit much, but more than that they seem like they want way more space to play in. I setup their own area outside in the run, separate from our other chickens. I put up solid walls on 2 sides, and put the ecoglow inside a large rubbermaid set upside down with one side removed - to create an area with more draft protection. I also had a cozy products radiant heat panel, so I put that in there to provide some additional heat. It's been in the 50s at night, but it's starting to get down into the 40s, and I know the ecoglow says it's not rated for that.

They've seemed ok for 2 nights, huddled under the ecoglow at night and running around in the day. Tonight is in the 40s and I was a bit concerned about it being too cold. I setup a red light heat lamp, attached securely, and the floor is sand/gravel so there's little that's flammable. Now they are not under the ecoglow, rather they are out under the heat lamp (not in the protected box area) and also running around at night eating and drinking. I do think it's warmer and maybe they needed that. They nighttime activity makes me wonder if the red light is disturbing them since they've been used to dark at night. And I'm concerned that maybe they won't settle down and sleep.

Any thoughts?

Thanks! - Sean

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you have any alternative bulbs that emit heat, but not light, i.e. a ceramic bulb?

I do think it's warmer and maybe they needed that. They nighttime activity makes me wonder if the red light is disturbing them since they've been used to dark at night.

The chicks themselves don't need the ambient temperature to be warmer (I routinely brood outside in the 40s), but the heat plate may need it.

Yes they're up and eating because the light is keeping them active. It shouldn't cause any issues but if you continue to use the red bulb then they'll continue to need food and water at night.

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

last winter (Feb) I brooded 2wk olds outside when the temps dropped to high 30s and low 40s at night and I just put the usual red heat lamp out there and gave them water, starter feed, and when I locked up my main flock at night I opened their second one so they could perch on it and get closer to the light. I never had a problem with my chicks sleep schedule being disturbed and once they were 6 weeks old (this is hard to explain so please bare with me) I pulled the baby gate slightly from the side of the run so there was a 6 inch gap they could get through and then I put my 5 gal feed bucket in front of it so they could slip behind it and hide if they get bullied and in one just about 1 1/2 weeks they were fully integrated and sleeping in the main big coop with the rest of the flock

 

[Ridgerunner]

They nighttime activity makes me wonder if the red light is disturbing them since they've been used to dark at night. And I'm concerned that maybe they won't settle down and sleep.

Some chicks are raised so it is dark at night, either under a broody hen or with our set-ups. Some chicks are raised with light 24 hours a day. All of these grow up to be chickens.

If they have enough light they might eat or drink or just be active at night. Sometimes mine sleep during the day. They are going to get sufficient rest.

Chickens often do not like change but they are also very adaptable. If chicks have never been in the dark they can get upset the first time the lights go off. For a short while. Then they get used to it. You are going from dark to always some light. They are probably not upset at all.

I think you are doing great.