Heat Plate in the dark

[truchicks]

Hi!

I got my first 4 chicks today (2 days old) and now it is bedtime and I'm concerned with the heat plate. If they wander away from it at night will they find their way back, since it can't call to them like a mama hen does? Also, I just peeked in on them (with a flashlight) and one was asleep a few inches away from the heat plate...is that ok? I live in TX and they are currently set up in our garage and the temperature in our garage is about 77 degrees. Please put my mind at ease because I already love these little gals and don't want anything bad to happen to them. TIA

 

[Jensownzoo]

Since they can't see in the dark, they tend to stay mostly put until dawn. 77 degrees is nice and warm...it may be a bit too warm for them directly under the heat plate. They'll situate themselves where they are most comfortable. Even if they can't see in the dark, they can still feel the warmth and can move towards it if need be.

 

[realsis]

I used a Brinsea broader similar to the heat plate when my 10 chick's were just hatched. I worried about the same thing. What I did was place one chick at a time under the plate I blocked the exit with my hand, once they felt the warmth they would settle under the warmth then I did the same thing with the next 9. After the first night they instinctively knew where to go for night time sleep as they all went under the plate together. During the day I just let them choose when they needed the warmth and when they didnt. It worked out wonderfully. They are now 5 weeks and almost completely feathered. Thank God they all did really well. I absolutely love the heating plate and wish I'd got one sooner! Don't worry once they know where there heat source is the flock will all go under it together when darkness falls. Mine did at least. Hope this helps. How many chicks do you have? As long as there is room for everyone it shouldn't be a issue. They catch on very quickly. Hope this helps. Also, you might want to ( if you haven't already) make sure to put marbles or small stones in their waterer to prevent chick drowning. Good luck with your new babies!

 

[CedarGB]

I had a Brinsea EcoGlow too, when the chicks were very "new", we kept it in the kitchen. The first night out of the incubator, they found their own way to the heat plate and were fine ever since. They would always go under the heat plate when it started getting dark and would stay there all night.

One thing I did notice when they were 2-3wks was that if I went in the kitchen and turned the light on in the night, the inquisitive chicks would come out then if I turned the light off they'd chirp about being lost.. I got a small torch and shone it at the ceiling and then slowly down to the floor to simulate sunset. They all found their way back and that was my new trick!

 

[truchicks]

Since they can't see in the dark, they tend to stay mostly put until dawn. 77 degrees is nice and warm...it may be a bit too warm for them directly under the heat plate. They'll situate themselves where they are most comfortable. Even if they can't see in the dark, they can still feel the warmth and can move towards it if need be.

Oh good! That's what I was hoping and this morning when i turned on the lights they were all under the heat plate

 

[truchicks]

I used a Brinsea broader similar to the heat plate when my 10 chick's were just hatched. I worried about the same thing. What I did was place one chick at a time under the plate I blocked the exit with my hand, once they felt the warmth they would settle under the warmth then I did the same thing with the next 9. After the first night they instinctively knew where to go for night time sleep as they all went under the plate together. During the day I just let them choose when they needed the warmth and when they didnt. It worked out wonderfully. They are now 5 weeks and almost completely feathered. Thank God they all did really well. I absolutely love the heating plate and wish I'd got one sooner! Don't worry once they know where there heat source is the flock will all go under it together when darkness falls. Mine did at least. Hope this helps. How many chicks do you have? As long as there is room for everyone it shouldn't be a issue. They catch on very quickly. Hope this helps. Also, you might want to ( if you haven't already) make sure to put marbles or small stones in their waterer to prevent chick drowning. Good luck with your new babies!

I have 4 chicks, and you are right, they do catch on very quickly. I have a chick waterer with a poultry nipple on it and they picked up on that right out of the box. I'm very pleased with their intelligence!

This morning they were all under the heat plate and all doing well so I'm assuming they figured it out while I was sleeping.

 

[truchicks]

I had a Brinsea EcoGlow too, when the chicks were very "new", we kept it in the kitchen. The first night out of the incubator, they found their own way to the heat plate and were fine ever since. They would always go under the heat plate when it started getting dark and would stay there all night.

One thing I did notice when they were 2-3wks was that if I went in the kitchen and turned the light on in the night, the inquisitive chicks would come out then if I turned the light off they'd chirp about being lost.. I got a small torch and shone it at the ceiling and then slowly down to the floor to simulate sunset. They all found their way back and that was my new trick!

This was my problem last night. When i turned off the lights and it was dark all of a sudden they would start chirping very loudly and I know birds can't see at night so it worried me that they would not be able to get to the heat plate. I had to wait until they all went until they were all under the heat plate and then turn off the light quickly. I think I will try your idea tonight!

 

[CedarGB]

This was my problem last night. When i turned off the lights and it was dark all of a sudden they would start chirping very loudly and I know birds can't see at night so it worried me that they would not be able to get to the heat plate. I had to wait until they all went until they were all under the heat plate and then turn off the light quickly. I think I will try your idea tonight! 

Hope it works, would be interesting to find out!