I am having trouble regulating the temperature.

[ThePhoebeFive]

I agree, that was too cold.


Yes, that is fine. As long as they have plenty of cool space, it's fine to have a bit of space "too hot" right under the lamp.




A really long brooder makes the temperature control much easier: have one end too hot and one end too cold, and the chicks can hang out somewhere in the middle where it's just right. That also works well for chicks of varied ages, because the little ones can spend their time closer to the warm end, while the older ones spend their time closer to the cold end. (I'm not sure how long your brooder is-- you might already have that.)

It's not really long, but it's fairly big all around. I'm borrowing a friend's "brooder". It is actually a watering trough for horses!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

My brooder temp was 81°F this morning

Ahhhh perfect.... How are they acting in *81 ? Huddled up acting cold or scattered and living their best life? I'm going to bet on the later. I think you have nothing to worry about.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

Ahhhh perfect.... How are they acting in *81 ? Huddled up acting cold or scattered and living their best life? I'm going to bet on the later. I think you have nothing to worry about.

At the time that I posted that, they were huddled up. But, per the advice of others, I started them out at a warmer temp and then backed them down. Now they are "scattered and living their best life".

I'm guessing that you found this because of my post in the other thread (Sick chicks- UPDATE). Like I said in that one, I've been under the impression that it needed to be in the mid-nineties for some time. It wasn't until this batch that I was having trouble at that temperature and found out it should be lower. I think probably they couldn't handle it being that low because they were used to it being higher.

Once I moved them inside, I let it rise up to the mid-nineties (this was before I lost some to overheating). After they started acting normal again, I began backing them down a couple degrees every few hours to see how they did. As long as I let them adjust to the new temp for a bit, they progressively got better. I moved them back out once they could handle cooler temps and they did great.

When they were outside was when I had problems with overheating. They were all a bit older, but I brought new ones home and these were the ones I was losing. When the outside temperature reached the high, the temp in the brooder was in the upper 90s. That was when I lost some.

It was a tough lesson to learn (both the one where it was too cold and the one where I lost chicks), but now I know and hopefully I won't have that problem. I won't let the temp get below 90 anymore!

Thanks to everyone who helped me.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

Ahhhh perfect.... How are they acting in *81 ? Huddled up acting cold or scattered and living their best life? I'm going to bet on the later. I think you have nothing to worry about.

They are still under the heat lamp, because I'm using my heat plate for some different ones (the ones who were having issues overheating), but I also much rather the heat plate. Or, rather, the heating pad. My heat plate is a Sunbeam heating pad with no timer on a cooling rack. (Sounds funny: a heating pad on a cooling rack, I promise it works though! ) It is much more like having a mama hen, and they adjust to cooler temps a lot faster. They don't overheat as easily since they can get away from the heat if they want (if I had a bigger box it would work better, but I don't).They also feather faster.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

They are still under the heat lamp, because I'm using my heat plate for some different ones (the ones who were having issues overheating), but I also much rather the heat plate. Or, rather, the heating pad. My heat plate is a Sunbeam heating pad with no timer on a cooling rack. (Sounds funny: a heating pad on a cooling rack, I promise it works though! ) It is much more like having a mama hen, and they adjust to cooler temps a lot faster. They don't overheat as easily since they can get away from the heat if they want (if I had a bigger box it would work better, but I don't).They also feather faster.

I couldn't agree more! I have 2, using 1 old and 1 new Sunbeam. I made my own wire mommy chicken from fencing wire, drape heat pad over wire and secure with a towel cover that I made with velcro. I replace hand towels that go on top of the cover daily.... I might try press n seal sometime for a cover and I also really like your idea of a cooling rack (though ironic.) I know how happy the baby chicks are under there by the cute little singing and silence, no crying. Chick behavior has been the best guide really....

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

I couldn't agree more! I have 2, using 1 old and 1 new Sunbeam. I made my own wire mommy chicken from fencing wire, drape heat pad over wire and secure with a towel cover that I made with velcro. I replace hand towels that go on top of the cover daily.... I might try press n seal sometime for a cover and I also really like your idea of a cooling rack (though ironic.) I know how happy the baby chicks are under there by the cute little singing and silence, no crying. Chick behavior has been the best guide really....

Yes! I love their little sleepy sounds! I don't change out the towels daily, right now. They aren't hopping or pooping on it yet, but once they do I will change them.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

Can you create a sort of "heat cave"? I had a similar problem in February, but solved it by putting the heat lamp inside an old DogLoo! I've used cardboard as well, just be careful if fire!! Good luck!

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

Heat escapes up and down, be sure the floor is insulated as well. Newspapers and cardboard under the brooder work well

 

[Pickensandchigs]

If they're dry and have a heat lamp, they're good.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

Can you create a sort of "heat cave"? I had a similar problem in February, but solved it by putting the heat lamp inside an old DogLoo! I've used cardboard as well, just be careful if fire!! Good luck!

I had tried to create a cave with blankets, but I was really worried about it catching fire and it didn't help anyway. I ended up bringing them inside for a few days and waiting for the weather to warm up. Now it's dropped again, but everyone's fine because they're used to it.