heat in brooder question

[schimbare]

Greetings!

I am using a space heater to heat the brooder. Near the heater, it is too hot - over 100 degrees. The furthest point from the heater is about 70 degrees. And that is where my 8 day old chicks huddle to sleep. They could definitely sleep in a warmer spot. Instead they are all smooshed together as far from the heater as possible.

They are fine walking around the brooder, getting food and water, wandering about, but for sleeping, they choose this relatively cold area.

I read all I could find about problems caused by too much heat, and too little heat. According to what I read, their brooder should be about 90 degrees. The chicks seem fine during the day. They certainly are not panting or being crazy about getting away from the heat source. They seem absolutely fine. And they are not panting or anything like that at night. It is just that they choose the 70 degree area then sleep all over each other.

I would really appreciate any ideas or opinions from some experienced chick-raisers.

Thanks
Schimbare

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Is your space heater blowing air around? They don't like drafts.

 

[schimbare]

Oh dear. The gentle breeze of hot air is considered a draft? Crap. I am sure that is the problem I did not know. Dammit.

Well, they will have to wait until the morning. I hope they will be ok.

I don't think I know the definition of "draft", when it comes to chickens. Argh.

Thanks for the quick answer.

Schimbare

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Oh dear. The gentle breeze of hot air is considered a draft? Crap. I am sure that is the problem I did not know. Dammit.

Well, they will have to wait until the morning. I hope they will be ok.

I don't think I know the definition of "draft", when it comes to chickens. Argh.

Thanks for the quick answer.

Schimbare

Well if it has a fan blowing air they won't like it. But if it is a radiator type it would be OK- but the heat might rise and not keep them warm. One thing to keep in mind is they will be flying soon. Yes your little itty bitties will be airborne soon. As in sooner than you can imagine. So anything you use has to be anchored for flying chickens and so they can't hop on top of something hot.

It is akin to having toddlers, but flying toddlers.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingChicks.html
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/chickcare.html

Here are a couple of pages that may interest you to give you some ideas!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/homemade-chicken-brooder-designs-pictures

Also here are some pics of brooders to help you if needed!

 

[schimbare]

Thanks CAS,

I got up and re-arranged the heater to there would be less draftiness. My problem is that I cannot find a clamp lamp or any type of lamp that will take the 250 watt red heat bulb. Ironically, yesterday I traveled an hour to the "local" Agway, but I did not buy the clamp lamp, as I thought the space heater system was working OK. I've been to three hardware stores around there and they have no heater lamps.

I will call a few more stores this AM and if they don't have anything suitable that can heat the brooder, I will order a lamp online.

Question - The chickies are in a 70 -80 degree environment. They seem fine. Perhaps, I should get a little box for them to huddle in, or something like that? As I said, they seem fine to me, but I know the temperature should be up around 90 for this week. Any thoughts on anything I might do until I get a proper heat lamp?

Thank you so much.

Schimbare

 

[schimbare]

Nevermind!!

I found a heat lamp in a local hardware store - the one store that I did not check! Let that be a lesson to us to use our mom and pop stores and not rely on the big box behemoths!

Anyway, the chickies are so happy. I thought they were ok with the space heater, but now I see they are plopping themselves down under the lamp and nodding off to sleep. I think they must have been stressed, poor things.

I can't thank you enough CAS for responding so quickly about the hot draft situation. Hot drafts, cold drafts...who knew? Truly, I did not even know what a "draft" was. Now I know and I will make sure the chickens are in a draft free environment from now on.

Thank you again.

Schimbare

 

[gracierooster]

Chicks will regulate themselves, if they are as far away from the heater than they can get, they are too hot. If they are directly under a lamp or right next to your heater, they are too cold. If they are just milling all around, they are just right because they are getting hot, then warm, then cool, then they just reheat themselves.

 

[schimbare]

Gracie,

The problem was that it was only 70 degrees in the brooder, but the chicks were as far away as they could get from the space heater - which made no sense, since at this age they should prefer to be at 90 degrees.

Now, with their new heat lamp, they are doing just as you mentioned - meandering around, playing, flying about, and sleeping. Really, they seem so much happier. I am so relieved.

Schimbare

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Nevermind!!

I found a heat lamp in a local hardware store - the one store that I did not check! Let that be a lesson to us to use our mom and pop stores and not rely on the big box behemoths!

Anyway, the chickies are so happy. I thought they were ok with the space heater, but now I see they are plopping themselves down under the lamp and nodding off to sleep. I think they must have been stressed, poor things.

I can't thank you enough CAS for responding so quickly about the hot draft situation. Hot drafts, cold drafts...who knew? Truly, I did not even know what a "draft" was. Now I know and I will make sure the chickens are in a draft free environment from now on.

Thank you again.

Schimbare

You are welcome and I am so happy that your mom and pop store had what you were looking for!

I love hardware stores that are locally owned. They always have the neatest things in there. I am so happy too that your chicks are comfortable and resting.