Heat plate height

[jploria116]

So my two week old chicks are varying in size. I currently have my heat plate higher in the front and lower in the back. Tonight I noticed my largest chick laying on the bottom with her head poking out. Is this normal behavior? I know it may sound like a dumb questions but I always assumed chicks sleep standing up not lying down. Brooder is in my basement and the room temperature is around 60-65. She’s my most active and adventurous chick. The other chicks are huddle next to her but under the plate. Looks like her wing is over another chick!

 

[jploria116]

Actually I looked closer. That’s my other grey ones head in between. Not the wing of the brown chick. Lol anyway is this normal to be kind of hanging out from under the heat plate?

 

[Goose_the_cat]

Actually I looked closer. That’s my other grey ones head in between. Not the wing of the brown chick. Lol anyway is this normal to be kind of hanging out from under the heat plate?

My chicks used to hang out near, around, and under the plate depending on just what they wanted to do if it looks like most of the chicks are on the edges you might try raising it if you wanted but I wouldn’t worry too much since the chicks usually know what they need more than we know

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're older now and don't need as much heat as before, so this seems like a reasonable way for them to regulate their temperature.

 

[TheRusticRebel]

Mine are 2 weeks old today and last night they all fell asleep in a corner of the brooder. This morning they were all under the MHP. I think they just do what they want . But even when they were younger they were sometimes just half under the mhp. I think they only time i saw them all under without sticking out was the first few days.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I’d suggest raising it in the front a few clicks. The back seems like it’s just off the top of the bedding, so you could raise that a click too. My chicks always slept lying down and were all over depending on how warm they feel. Once they get to the point they start feathering, they even slept on top of the brooder plate. I only raised a couple of groups in the basement. Once some of my hens started to go broody, I would buy day-old chicks and slip them under her hot fanny in the middle of the night.