Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

My chicks are in a room that is set at about 73. They have a heat plate which is set at an angle so they can decide whether to snuggle up against it or not. It is warm, not hot to the touch and they really only get its heat if they touch it or close to.
They are now 9 days old and conventional wisdom suggests they need to be at 90 degrees or something like that. But they are not really interested in the heat plate. They are all in its general vicinity but as far from touching it as you can get.
I think they may be too hot.
Anyone experienced this? I can lower the temperature in the room which will be a good way to acclimatize them to going outside. I am just puzzled that they seem to find 73 degrees warm enough already.

 

[BY Bob]

Wonderful, these always seem to come when I need a good laugh. Auroras sage advice always does my heart good. Wonderfully written. Thank you Aurora and her scribe .

I'm glad you liked it.

 

[Ponypoor]

I’m sitting out here waiting for the chooks to decide to enter the coop. I don’t think they are in any hurry to come home yet

Mine trickle in around 6-ish. Penelope and Blanche first and the rest follow. Misty want on top of the door, and whiskers on the shavings bags.

After I do evening feed of the horses, I hauls whiskers off the bags, and Misty off the door, plop them both in the hen house, do head count, and lock up for the night.

All accounted for

Chicks sleeping

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

My chicks are in a room that is set at about 73. They have a heat plate which is set at an angle so they can decide whether to snuggle up against it or not. It is warm, not hot to the touch and they really only get its heat if they touch it or close to.
They are now 9 days old and conventional wisdom suggests they need to be at 90 degrees or something like that. But they are not really interested in the heat plate. They are all in its general vicinity but as far from touching it as you can get.
I think they may be too hot.
Anyone experienced this? I can lower the temperature in the room which will be a good way to acclimatize them to going outside. I am just puzzled that they seem to find 73 degrees warm enough already.

Rule of thumb, "Quiet chicks are happy chicks." If they were cold they would cheep loudly. If they are too hot they will be sprawled out and panting. If they are just happily softly cheeping you have their environment just right.

 

[BY Bob]

It made me laugh too - brought back memories of the great tile debate!

Not to mention the revised state of the room.

Post in thread 'Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock' https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...es-stories-of-our-flock.1286630/post-25377390

 

[BY Bob]

No. But he has something better. I am going from memory of the thread as I haven't seen for myself.

I directed the post to you.

 

[BY Bob]

Oh no, I just realized that I used Disney artwork twice in here today. So Disney, I apologize!

Coco will never get a job there now.

 

[Ponypoor]

My chicks are in a room that is set at about 73. They have a heat plate which is set at an angle so they can decide whether to snuggle up against it or not. It is warm, not hot to the touch and they really only get its heat if they touch it or close to.
They are now 9 days old and conventional wisdom suggests they need to be at 90 degrees or something like that. But they are not really interested in the heat plate. They are all in its general vicinity but as far from touching it as you can get.
I think they may be too hot.
Anyone experienced this? I can lower the temperature in the room which will be a good way to acclimatize them to going outside. I am just puzzled that they seem to find 73 degrees warm enough already.

The office/feedroom is at 17C no where near 73F, and they are also 9 days old. They are out hopping around the bin practicing flying running along a branch I have in there and they roost on top of the brooder.

I had them outside in the sun and it was only around 4C, they were happy to dust bathe and sun themselves, then when they started hanging out in their little box I carry them back and forth in, I knew they were getting cold and tired. About 30 min or so. I put them back in their bin.

 

[BY Bob]

Floor looks great I have pics on my iPhone I will post later, will paint walls tomorrow if it rains, if nice I will work on the outside stuff.

I bought low/zero VOC primer and paint, very light yellow. Will need to paint walls then put in my shelving and some base board trim.

Working around the chicks in there, if it would warm up I could put them in the hen house at night. And during the day put them in the Summer House. But its darn tooting cold for them even with the sweeter heater and their brooder plate yesterday they were cold and hardly came out from under the brooder plate.

But they need to be out and about, maybe I will make a smaller enclosure in the summer House for them with the sweeter heater try to keep it warm for them until their proper feathers come in.

You should always paint before flooring. You are out of order.

 

[BY Bob]

Rule of thumb, "Quiet chicks are happy chicks." If they were cold they would cheep loudly. If they are too hot they will be sprawled out and panting. If they are just happily softly cheeping you have their environment just right.