Help me Chill Out about my new chicks.

[Megsconk]

I just got my very first chicks. I’ve always only done older pullets. We brought them home from the feed store and they immediately went to sleep. I’m paranoid about my heat lamp. I’m paranoid about their butts. Someone help calm me down.

 

[FernwoodHollow]

I just got my very first chicks. I’ve always only done older pullets. We brought them home from the feed store and they immediately went to sleep. I’m paranoid about my heat lamp. I’m paranoid about their butts. Someone help calm me down.

I was exactly like this when I started as well I was worried about everything as long as there's a spot in the brooder where they can get away with the heat if they need to then they're fine if it's really worrying you put a thermometer where the light goes to make sure it's not too hot the fact that they're cuddled up the way they are they're not too hot all I did was a daily bum check with a soft warm wet paper towel no need to do what you see on Instagram and dunking their whole bottom half in glasses of water and soaking and things a damp warm paper towel is more than enough if you keep up with it once or twice a day just check and give them all a wipe be careful not to pull those little black pieces you see hanging below that's from hatching it's supposed to be there don't pull it off but they look perfect and fluffy and super cute and I completely understand your anxiety!

 

[C Siena]

Agree with @FernwoodHollow, monitor temperature and butts.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Calm you down? Where is the fun in that? So for a no-fun Saturday.

If your heat lamp is securely fastened so it can't fall it is highly unlikely to cause a fire. As long as the chicks can get to a cooler spot if they need it they will not overheat. People have been using heat lamps to raise chicks for over 100 years. With anything used that much you will have incidents but that is usually with people that don't use them properly. I use a heat lamp properly and ignore all the hysteria I see on here about them.

Pasty butt. Can happen. Doesn't happen that often but it can. I've seen it once, two chicks in one 20-chick brood. Try to not overstress them by overheating or chilling them. But like everything else, just pay attention and manage it if you have an issue. Most people don't have this issue.