Heat

[PlumpChicken]

I have my chicks in a horse water tank right now which is in my "tent" shelter right now. During the night I close it up and as much as possible to keep any draft out of the shelter. During the day thought it's like an oven in the shelter... I leave for work to early in the morning to shut the lamps off. I came home from work today and checked the temp and it was a little over 100! I opened the shelter door and let some cool air in... and the chicks started to liven up and run around a bit more. They did not look dead they just looked like they were napping. I just don't want to come home to 30 fried dead chicks...

 

[redbarnmeadows]

Christmas light timers! Check the hardware section in Walmart, probably near the nightlights, extension cords, etc.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It's still August in North America and in most places, probably like yours, the days are still near 90F. Chicks don't need any heat at 90F ambient air. Chicks raised by brooding hens are outside. The timer idea is ideal. I wouldn't worry too awful much about "drafts" as they in the bottom of a stock tank. I'd worry about cooking them though!! The whole "drafts are horrid" concept is grossly over rated.

Chicks can handle a lot, and are tougher than most people think. What they cannot do is sweat to cool off. The can only hold their wings out and pant. It only helps so much.

 

[RonC]

I don't know where you live so I have no idea of your night time temps. Thirty chicks can create quiet a bit of heat on their own. Unless you live where it's already starting to get chilly at night I wouldn't worry about a draft. Give them plenty of ventilation in this summer weather during the day. I would leave their tent open in the day if at all possible. If you don't have one already put a screen/mesh top on the tank. I wouldn't want to hear about baked chicks either.