Holiday

[Kimberly4403]

I think night only would be jisy fine. You could also just take it away if the house is at 65-70°F ... They will be just fine.

They started huddling next to eachother does that mean there cold? They werent making an major peeping sounds just huddling together.. I ended up turning the heat emitter back on after 3hrs... Today the house is sitting around 21C (68F) the lowest ive seen inside is 17-18C (62F+).. Ill try again turning it off for the day we leave tomorrow night and in laws will only feed then twice a day if they get cold during the day no one will be home to turn it on.. Im a first time chick mom so bare with me lol

 

[Stephine]

I don't think it would be a problem just leaving the lamp on as long as the brooder is big enough they can get well away
from the heat emitter and regulate their own temperature like that. It is winter so it's not like the temperature in your house will go up all of a sudden (like here in the summer). If they are not too warm now they are not going to be overheating in the next few days. You probably have a thermostat for your home heating, right? Just set it on pretty low but still suitable temperature (maybe 60), to make sure. I wouldn't worry too much. I had a 175 heat emitter on mine till week 8/7 (a few were slow to get feathers) and they always slept next to it at night, and hung out close by even during the day for naps. They were in the house between 70 day and 60-55 night.

 

[Kimberly4403]

No thermostate to regulate house temp dont need it here in Australia

 

[Ghull00]

Chicks often huddle together as they will almost always get on well with each other. Yes, they will also do this to keep warm but they will often start to cheep like mad if they are too cold. I would recommend trying to ease the heat of them before you go away, that way you won't be so worried about their temperature as they will be used to having no lamp. I would also definitely use dry food and as previous posts suggested, sprinkle very small quantities on the floor for them to scratch around in......my chicks are about a week further on than yours, but personally mine still have some heat....Ah well....keep on asking questions........that's what this awesome website is for .....good luck and enjoy your holiday.....GHull

 

[SD Bird Lady]

If they are fine now, they will be fine while your away. Some people dont like to leave heat on while they are gone for fear of fires.

You will notice that birds raised with less heat usually feather out fast. This mig by explain why yours aren't as densely feather. I notice a huge difference in feathering between my brooder raised and hen raised chicks.