Heat lamp question, 1 week old chicks.

[Sublight]

Do I leave the lamp on 24 hours a day? Will that mess up their internal clock?

I normally use a broody hen, but after the hawk attack, she is super stressed. Between the hawk and the adolescnt rooster being a horn dog she isn't happy.
The adolecent rooster now has his own private bachelor pad so it's better for her.

 

[Sublight]

Their craws are not always full like I remember.

 

[featheredplanets]

You do leave it on 24 hours a day, you can start to turn it off for a few hours once they get to 2+ weeks, you can leave it off all day if it’s warm where you are, at least, I did in summer. Or use an alternative that doesn’t use light, like an electric plate or Mama Heating Pad, both a more natural way to brood chicks, the latter being cheaper and cosier and much more natural.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes light based heat is left on 24 hours a day and yes this does interrupt their natural day night cycle. This is one of the benefits of using non light based heat sources such as a brooder plate or mama heat pad

 

[Sublight]

Thanks guys. I really miss my broody. It was so mu6ck simpler

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Thanks guys. I really miss my broody. It was so mu6ck simpler

Oh, definitely.....a good broody is worth her weight in gold