Heat lamp concerns and feed questions

[peeperkeeper7]

Hello, new to chickens and just bought 3 day old chicks. Do i keep a heat lamp on them night and day? How long do they need heat lamps? How much shoud they eat and whats next step?

 

[lalaland]

hello,
yes, either get a heat lamp asap or use the heating pad (search mamaheatingpad brooder for a great thread).

heat should be constant until they act like they don't need it anymore. It will depend on how warm it is where you have them - but for the first 2 or 3 weeks you will definitely need to provide supplemental heat. They like it in the 85-90 range the first week, drop about 5 degrees each week after that.

There must be enough room to get away from the heat. They will warm up, go away and run around, and come back and warm up.
If they are cheeping loudly, something isn't right.
If they are all huddled up cheeping, they are cold. Bring lamp down to get more heat.
If they are all staying away from the lamp, it is too hot.


Free feed them- feed and water avail 24/7. chicks easily drown, so make sure your waterer is a chick waterer. If not, start researching. you could use a saucer with marbles so it is extremely shallow, but that will require lots of refilling and cleaning.

It would be best if you did a search on this forum and started reading.
You can also purchase books on raising chicks.

good luck, and welcome to byc

 

[azygous]

I'm wondering if you have some place for them to live when they get big in six or eight weeks.