heater questions

[sals_chicks]

Hi All - first time chick mama here. My 7 babies are about 6 days old currently, and they are becoming VERY active. I am using a brooder plate style heater, and have it set up on the lowest setting (close to the floor of the brooder) - It is nice and toasty for them. Brooder box in indoors in a heated room, that is about 70 degrees.

My question is... today is the first day I've seem them all sitting/sleeping on top of the brooder plate for most of the day, rather than under it? Is it time to raise it up a bit? The top is still a bit warm, though no where near as warm as underneath. No one is peeping or in distress, and they are snuggled, but not tightly together, so I don't think they are cold.

Thanks in advance!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Hi All - first time chick mama here. My 7 babies are about 6 days old currently, and they are becoming VERY active. I am using a brooder plate style heater, and have it set up on the lowest setting (close to the floor of the brooder) - It is nice and toasty for them. Brooder box in indoors in a heated room, that is about 70 degrees.

My question is... today is the first day I've seem them all sitting/sleeping on top of the brooder plate for most of the day, rather than under it? Is it time to raise it up a bit? The top is still a bit warm, though no where near as warm as underneath. No one is peeping or in distress, and they are snuggled, but not tightly together, so I don't think they are cold.

Thanks in advance!

If possible, I would only raise half of it (so it's angled). That way, if it was too low, then can get under and if it wasn't, it isn't too high

 

[FowlRancher]

As mentioned I'd raise the brooder plate and angle it at a 30 degree incline, that way chicks can choose their "depth" under the brooder for their perfect temperature.

 

[3KillerBs]

When they know how and where to get warm when they need to they can be trusted to get warm when they need do. I brood outdoors and it's amazing how little time the chicks spend in their warm area compared to the time they spend away from it.

I agree on raising one side of the plate is possible.

 

[sals_chicks]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I raised one side a couple clicks - they are still sitting on top (though now sliding a little more, lol) But they did go under it last night, so maybe they are just enjoying sitting up high?

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you all for your suggestions! I raised one side a couple clicks - they are still sitting on top (though now sliding a little more, lol) But they did go under it last night, so maybe they are just enjoying sitting up high?

You might give them a few other things to sit on too. They do seem to like to find some kind of training perch.