HELP- New baby Chicks !! ***please!!

[furbabies86]

Glad they are standing, that’s a good sign. The things I would add to the larger brooder would be something to provide shade to cool down and some sort of thermometer to gauge temp.

Is this too close to them they seem to be huddling up now

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Do you have any sort of big box? That's what I usually do, then when the chicks are grown, we just toss the box. We keep all of our big boxes, just break them down flat, and stash them away for future use.

 

[NatJ]

Is this too close to them they seem to be huddling up now

If they are huddling close together, right under the lamp, and peeping, AND if that continues for more than a few minutes, then it needs to be warmer. (Solution: move the lamp closer to the chicks.) Sometimes they will huddle & peep a bit when they are tired and ready to sleep, but they should settle down in just a few minutes if the temperature is right.

If they are moving into the corners away from the lamp, spreading their wings, and panting, then it needs to be colder. (Solution: raise the lamp to move it further away from them.)

And if they move around the box, eating and drinking and sleeping and playing, then the temperature is fine.

It's easiest if you can manage a big enough brooder that part is a little too hot, part is perfect, and part is definitely cool (room temperature is good for the cool part.) Then the chicks can run back and forth--play in the "cold" area, warm up in the "hot" area, relax in the "just right" area.

 

[Parront]

I used an old refrigerator box for these chicks last year. See how they are under the heater in the first photo? Cold.
The last photo shows them wandering around, comfortable. The heater is a little higher. These chicks wanted to be about 90, not 100, right out of the box. They were from Texas, Ideal, and they were ready to be cooler at 2 days old! You have to watch them and see how they act.

 

[furbabies86]

If they are huddling close together, right under the lamp, and peeping, AND if that continues for more than a few minutes, then it needs to be warmer. (Solution: move the lamp closer to the chicks.) Sometimes they will huddle & peep a bit when they are tired and ready to sleep, but they should settle down in just a few minutes if the temperature is right.

If they are moving into the corners away from the lamp, spreading their wings, and panting, then it needs to be colder. (Solution: raise the lamp to move it further away from them.)

And if they move around the box, eating and drinking and sleeping and playing, then the temperature is fine.

It's easiest if you can manage a big enough brooder that part is a little too hot, part is perfect, and part is definitely cool (room temperature is good for the cool part.) Then the chicks can run back and forth--play in the "cold" area, warm up in the "hot" area, relax in the "just right" area.

I got a bigger brooder for them and have a thermometer on the ground under the heat lamp. It’s at 90 so I think they’re good. And they seem to be doing better. The runt I am unsure if it’s eating yet or maybe I haven’t seen it but keeping eye out. Did see him/her drinking water.

 

[furbabies86]

I got a bigger brooder for them and have a thermometer on the ground under the heat lamp. It’s at 90 so I think they’re good. And they seem to be doing better. The runt I am unsure if it’s eating yet or maybe I haven’t seen it but keeping eye out. Did see him/her drinking water.

Hey is 100 too hot. ?? Here they are sleeping and here is how high it is from them.

 

[NatJ]

Hey is 100 too hot. ?? Here they are sleeping and here is how high it is from them.

They look fine.

The chicks are a better guide than a thermometer. They look fine to me in your photos--not clumped under the lamp, but not squished into the far corner to get away from it.

 

[furbabies86]

They look fine.

The chicks are a better guide than a thermometer. They look fine to me in your photos--not clumped under the lamp, but not squished into the far corner to get away from it.

Thanks the temp goes between 90-100 and they have been running around all over the place haha. Thanks

 

[Parront]

Sometimes a couple of chicks will want it that hot. See the one right under the heat in your photo? The rest want to be cooler, and they are farther away. They get to choose the temp if they have the room. It is good to put the food and water in the coolest place, on the far side from the heat.

 

[Chez Poulette]

Hey everyone we just got 2 day old baby chicks (5 of them) - one is up and walking around chirping away. all others do not have eyes open, legs are stretched and they are sleeping right now) - this is new to me. is something wrong? they had a hard time walking without falling over. wasn't sure if this was normal for 2 day old chickens. (bantam) - what can we do? how do we know without watching them 24/7 if they are even getting food/water.

When you got them home you should have dipped their beeks in the water dish to make sure they drink something. You don’t have to do it a lot, just enough to show them where it is. They do sleep a lot and fall asleep standing up. ( supper cute to watch!!) but, they should be up moving around throughout the day drinking and wandering around.