Help. What is wrong with my chicks?

[Skippersnh]

I thought at 3-4 weeks old they would be ok without heat if they were inside

 

[Kiki]

I thought at 3-4 weeks old they would be ok without heat if they were inside

Yea they should be at that age, I didn't realize they were that old.

 

[Pigpye]

Have you checked in throats for gapeworm?

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

I'm wondering if this is too cold for them.
How old are they?

5 weeks tomorrow. I just went out there and am definitely confident they aren’t too hot. They are under the heat source and as you can see in this pic, they have lots of room to move away if they want. I took temp at floor level below the heat and it is a couple degrees less than the reading on the wall so it’s aboit 78° on the floor right now. Heat source is circled in red in pic.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Have you checked in throats for gapeworm?

No actually. But I have definitely looked in their mouths and didn’t see anything. I’ll search that now tho.

 

[Kiki]

No actually. But I have definitely looked in their mouths and didn’t see anything. I’ll search that now tho.

I wouldn't waste my time.
I highly doubt gape worm is an issue.

 

[Skippersnh]

Ok I might be wrong but if the floor is 78 then there heads are hotter and I think 78 is too hot anyway
If im wrong then someone tell me and then I've learned something

 

[Skippersnh]

I guess they would move away from the heat if they were hot though

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Ok I might be wrong but if the floor is 78 then there heads are hotter and I think 78 is too hot anyway
If im wrong then someone tell me and then I've learned something

But then why would they lay under the heat source? Why wouldn’t they move away if they were hot? They are sick so I heard you should keep a sick chicken between 75-85, regardless of age but maybe that is bad info.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Even if it’s not the cause, it’s definitely something good for me to be aware of! I’m new to chickens so all info is great for me to read up on. Thank you.