Hatchlings are here! Concerned about temperatures

[Masaj Mahrhad]

Hi everyone, my hatchlings were born yesterday. 13 in total. I quickly set up their nesting area in my garage, inside a plastic tote bin, with chopped hay as their bedding surface, and an infrared heat lamp about 2 feet above. I set it up so half of their bin is exposed, while the other half is shaded.

Everywhere I read, it says to make sure they stay warm, as the first week is the most critical.

But I'm worried about them being to hot. It's summer time, and my garage temperature can be in high 80s (f) at night, and in the mid 90s (f) in the daytime. Right now they are laying around under the shaded half of their home, away from the heat lamp. Are they too hot, or are they under the shade to try and sleep without the disturbance of the light, of both?

Also, should I be using the heat lamp on them 24/7?

 

[CliftonQuail]

Most of what I've read is that they need 95F for the first week and to reduce it by 5 degrees each week. I usually remove the heat at about 3 weeks old, if not sooner based on their behavior. Once the birds are fully feathered, they can do a better job of self regulating their temperature. If you can put a thermometer under the lamp, it'll give you an idea if it's too hot. For my birds, I use a ceramic reptile heater instead of a lamp so they get some semblance of a night and don't have a red light shining on them all the time.

If they're staying away from the heat source, it's probably too hot and needs to be raised. Also, I like to put the food and water away from the heat.

 

[jpalmatier83]

General rule of thumb is 95f for the first week and reduce by 5f each week after.

Also, if they’re bunched under the heat, they’re too cold. Bunched away from heat, too warm.

Temps you’re describing should be fine for them. You probably don’t even need the lamp.

As far as disturbance from light to sleep, Ive never had that problem with chickens. I’ve used both standard heat bulbs and ceramic ones. Most likely they’re somewhere between fine to too warm and are moving away from extra warmth.

 

[Nabiki]

The chicks will tell you. They're telling you it's too hot under the heat lamp since they're all scattered in the shady side.

If they bunch up and climb all over each other under the heat lamp, they're too cold. If they avoid the heat lamp and they're stretched out and/or panting, they're too hot.

 

[Masaj Mahrhad]

I figured that was the issue. I will now periodically turn the heat lamp off, and give them a break from the heat for a few hours per day.

I also need to get an area thermometer

 

[Kiki]

Hi everyone, my hatchlings were born yesterday. 13 in total. I quickly set up their nesting area in my garage, inside a plastic tote bin, with chopped hay as their bedding surface, and an infrared heat lamp about 2 feet above. I set it up so half of their bin is exposed, while the other half is shaded.

Everywhere I read, it says to make sure they stay warm, as the first week is the most critical.

But I'm worried about them being to hot. It's summer time, and my garage temperature can be in high 80s (f) at night, and in the mid 90s (f) in the daytime. Right now they are laying around under the shaded half of their home, away from the heat lamp. Are they too hot, or are they under the shade to try and sleep without the disturbance of the light, of both?

Also, should I be using the heat lamp on them 24/7?

I would not have any added heat on them at all with these temps.

I'd turn the light off for good.