Is 55F too cold for 3 week old goslings with no heat lamp outside?

[starrymutt]

I have my goslings, one 5 weeks and two 3 week olds outside in the brooder with heating lamps, I transitioned to just one lamp now, however I noticed they were pressed against the fence to get away from it so I shut it off. It's about 70F right now and the low tonight about mid 50s.

They sleep cuddled up together, usually in the corner, one is getting her feathers and the babies are getting their adult down, but is that too cold for them overnight? It'll be raining soon with some wind but still about 60-70F.

 

[AGeese]

So aside from the fact there's different stages of development. If you started the little ones out the first week at 95 or 90 and drop the temp 5 degrees each week you're no where near the 50s.

Can you get a brooder plate instead? I only use heat emitters at night that don't give off light. It's good they have each other, but you'll definitely want to make sure there's no draft.

If they're too hot they may have problems feathering out, but you don't want them too cold either so they don't get sick or have other developmental problems.

They need space to be able to get away from the heat when they don't need it, but it should be available when they do. That's why I think brooder plates are the way to go since they don't radiate heat throughout the brooder.

 

[starrymutt]

So aside from the fact there's different stages of development. If you started the little ones out the first week at 95 or 90 and drop the temp 5 degrees each week you're no where near the 50s.

Can you get a brooder plate instead? I only use heat emitters at night that don't give off light. It's good they have each other, but you'll definitely want to make sure there's no draft.

If they're too hot they may have problems feathering out, but you don't want them too cold either so they don't get sick or have other developmental problems.

They need space to be able to get away from the heat when they don't need it, but it should be available when they do that's why I think brooder plates are the way to go since they don't radiate heat throughout the brooder.

I'm not sure what temp it was tbh, likely in the 90s or 100 but there's no way to adjust the temperature on ours so I just let them out during the day (60s to 70s but it has dropped to 50s) and they seemed fine.

I'll have to see if we have brooder plates in our area. But do you think they'll survive the night? It's 1am and I can't go out, there likely is a small draft as the front of the box brooder is all wire but there are some corners that don't get as bad plus stuffed animals in with them.

The brooder is large and they have plenty of room, but the light might've been radiating enough heat that they got too hot

 

[AGeese]

You adjust the temperature by raising or lowering the lamp. If they were pressed against the fence they were telling you it's too hot.

You should have a thermometer so you're not guessing as the first month is the most crucial time for their development.

I can't really tell you one way or another what to do from here if you don't know the temps and the setup is restrictive so unless you can get a thermometer ASAP you will need to watch them closer to see how they react to the changes in temps.

 

[JRies]

I'm not sure what temp it was tbh, likely in the 90s or 100 but there's no way to adjust the temperature on ours so I just let them out during the day (60s to 70s but it has dropped to 50s) and they seemed fine.

I'll have to see if we have brooder plates in our area. But do you think they'll survive the night? It's 1am and I can't go out, there likely is a small draft as the front of the box brooder is all wire but there are some corners that don't get as bad plus stuffed animals in with them.

The brooder is large and they have plenty of room, but the light might've been radiating enough heat that they got too hot

Most feed stores have a plug to put on the plug that is temp adjusting

 

[AGeese]

$2.98 (To test the temps I put this one in the bottom of the brooder where the lamp is focused to see what it's like for them. This is a cheapy, I've had a couple of them not work. I wouldn't leave them in there, as they could get kicked around)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/AcuRite-...-6-x-7-4-Not-Battery-Powered-Plastic/16888910

$9.97 (I love these since I have a metal brooder I can stick them around the inside to monitor temps at a glance.)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Acurite-...lay-Battery-Powered-1-x-3-75-x-6-25/188541548

$11.79 (I've used a handheld like this, they're quick and easy to point and get a reading, but they can be flaky and accuracy somewhat depends on how you use it)
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SUPTREE-...d-Thermometer-for-Adults-Kids-Body/1326123805