heat lamp?

[chasing ducks]

I have 2 barred rock roosters, about 10 days old in my brooder. I have had the heat lamp on them for the last few days and they seem to be having an issue with it. The temp in the house is 70 in the kitchen so about 75 in my bedroom, do I really need to keep the heat lamp on them? They dig through the shavings and lay on the plastic bottom far away from the lamp and apart from each other. I don't want to over heat them.

 

[annie3001]

yes you need a heat lamp source for about 8 weeks or so.

 

[PeggySueQ]

You need to set up your heat lamp so that you can gradually reduce the temp by 5 degrees each week until you get down to the same temp as the house is running. Starting temp for 3 day-olds is 90 - 100 degrees. So your chicks should be ok with 85 - 90 degrees at this point. If they huddle under the lamp it's too cold. If they do what your chicks are doing it's (way too) hot. I have my lamp hung from a hook in the ceiling above the brooder. I've had to lower and raise it a bit with 20 degree swings in the daily temp but they let me know what makes them happy!

 

[goldnchocolate]

Try raising the heat lamp up to cool things off for them. You'd be surprised how warm it can get in those brooders.