Get your Chicks out the box

[cookinmom]

Temperature regulation of 95°, then lower 5° each week, etc. is based on how chicks normally feather out and conserve heat. It is the basic recommendation for new chick owners, but it is not set in stone. As you gain more experience, you tweak your set-up to what works best for you and the chicks.

Amen to that! There is a lot of tweaking to be done. On week one, we were having to turn off the heat lamp and open the door to the workshop, just to keep their temp between 90 & 95. Otherwise it was shooting up over 100! The next week, we had the lamp as low as I was comfortable with (much lower and we'd have had ignition, and 16 little mcnuggets!), and could still only keep it around 80. But they all made it through and are happy.

Would love any feedback anyone might have to help me be a good chick mom.

Franfoley, just keep reading posts in this section, as well as general discussion and feeding, and you will learn tons!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

franfoley- the "faq's" link at the top of the page has picture posting instructions.

 

[ozark hen]

cookinmom, we too were finding the heat lamp was just way too much heat. We didn't want a fire in the middle of the night and it was up high. We switched to a 75 watt reg. light bulb. My dh said that is what they used on his grandparent's farm all the time. It sure is working for us. Welcome franfoley

Sounds like the chicks weren't in good shape by the time they arrived so don't blame yourself. Just keep reading and using your own good common sense. Did you put sugar water in for them? I wouldn't make it real cold but lukewarm to warm to start them out. Mine did fine that way and I am a newbie.

 

[allen wranch]

A regular heat lamp of 250 or 150 watts is usually too hot for indoors unless it is pretty far from the brooder.

I found that a 75-100 watt regular light bulb puts off plenty of heat. You only want the hottest temp directly under the bulb anyway. I change it down to a 40-50 as the chicks get older. Outside is another matter.

 

[MoonGoddess]

Quote:
Yeah, see this is where I have answered yes to so many of these.

Believe me I WANT to get them outside...but I'm MORE afraid that something bad will happen.

For me here, it's raining a lot lately. It gets pretty darn cold out when it IS cloudy or raining. On warm days when I HAVE let them run around outside they have slipped behind my shed, through my back gate, under the porch stairs...and a variety of others.

Yeah, I think they are crowded in there. Yeah, they'd DEFINTELY prefer to be outside, but inside I know they are safe from the stray cats, warm and not stuck in a bad place.

I have taken quite a few days, 8 hours at a stretch, just to sit outside and do NOTHING else but keep an eye out, so they don't get into a bad situation, but I have a life, you know?

Until I know they can handle most things without my constant supervision, inside they stay.

 

[keljonma]

Quote:
A clutch of eggs. A flock of chickens.

Quote:
Here is the link for info on posting pics on BYC. We look forward to pics!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504

 

[bantymum]

I have 2 light sussex which are 3 1/2 weeks old and they have been outside all day this week. temps are 18 Celsius.
I have a windbreak (sheet of roofing) up on the windy side to keep draught off. They have been inside at night with a plain red bulb 40w for warmth.
They started with a 60w white globe but it interfered with their sleep pattern.
They stayed awake feeding etc when they should have been asleep. They also kept me awake. So I changed to a red globe (not infra red) and it worked perfectly, they slept at sundown.
I have put them outside in their little cupboard tonight with wire door about a foot wide, plenty of hay for bedding and a towel thrown over door to prevent draughts. I spied on them and listened and after a few loud cheeps they settled down.
They have nearly got all feathers so should be fine i am 99% sure.
Anyhow I would recommend daily scratch plays outside and a red lamp.
Helen

 

[ozark hen]

I put my little ones outside two days ago but only during the daytime. The first day they were only allowed outside for about 3 hours.

Yesterday they were outside the entire day in their little run. My goodness, I think I have ball players amongst them! I see them run at each other and jump and bump chests!

They are having so much fun outside. Running, tiny flights and chirping away. They almost pout when brought in at late afternoon. I am going to try to find a lower wattage red bulb for nights. Hmmm, maybe that is why they are getting so big...light 24/7..

 

[bantymum]

Yes, a normal red globe really works better!!!!

 

[ozark hen]

thank you so much. I am going to get one today!!