Is a brooder box necessary?

[irf1983]

I just bought 5 very young chicks. Right now I've just got them in a little cage outside. They seem to be fine in it. I'm in Florida so the weather is very warm. Do I need a box and a light? And if so, what is the reason?

 

[raspeary]

The heat lamp is to keep them warm. They self-regulate. If they are cold, they go under the light or get closer to it. If they are hot, they will move away from it and may start panting....

Watch their behavior and you will be able to tell if they need more heat or not.

As for the cage, I'd be a little concerned about predetors unless it' in a secure area. But that's just my opinion. More people will respond.

 

[Ridgerunner]

They need to stay dry and they need to stay warm but not too hot. Until they feather out, rain or getting wet can chill a chick, thus they need to stay dry.

If the temperature, including night time temperature, does not get below the recommended temperatures for their age, they don't need a light. I'll mention the party line, which is 90 to 95 degrees the first week, then drop 5 degrees a week until you reach your regular temperatures or they fully feather out.

I do think they are tougher than we normally give them credit for. You can listen to them when the temperature drops and they will tell you if they are too cold by their peeping. They will sleep in a pile whether they are cold or not, but that does tend to keep them warm. My 28 could handle temperatures a little cooler than your 5 probably can. Those 28 put out a lot of heat on their own. Chicks too cool may live but they don't thrive as they would if the temperatures are right. And they can die if they get too cold, either from the chill or they are more likely to catch diseases since they are weakened.

Too much heat is worse than being a little cool. If they are in a cage outside in Florida this time of year, they need shade and plenty of water.


Editted to add:

They also need to be protected from drafts. They can chill in a draft. You can use a draft guard or keep them in the coop lile Cmom.

 

[cmom]

I live near Ocala. I do keep a light on. The temp right now is in the 80's. The light doesn't seem to bother them as of right now they eat sleep and poop a lot. Within the next couple of days I'll change their light as I have a 40 watt in their coop right now which I'll change to a 15 watt. I put their brooders in the coops. I leave the brooder doors open so they can go in and out. My chicks are 3 weeks old.