Local hatchery and mail order hatchery chicks

[bakersdozenroo]

Hello, first time chicken owner I am getting 6 chicks on Friday from a local hatchery and then on the following Monday I’ll be getting another 6 female chicks and 1 rooster chick from a mail order hatchery. The mail order hatchery said that the chicks should be put with a heat lamp as they will be stressed from travel. I only have a heat plate as I had read they are much safer. Do you all think it will be okay to just have the mail order chicks under the heat lamp? Especially because they will be added with the local chicks who will have been there for a few days before they get there?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Depending on how quickly the chicks arrive, and how healthy they are, most will be fine to use the heat plate immediately. The problem is if some get chilled in transit (weather, or taking too long to arrive) or are weak. A weak, cold chick will sit under the heat plate and not come out to eat or drink.

I lost one chick this way. We removed her hourly to eat/drink on a heated pad, but I wish I had used a heat lamp for just that first day or two. It might have made the difference.

So ideally, you would use a heat lamp for at least the first day to get everyone eating and drinking, then switch to the heat plate that night (without the heat lamp). Have it ready to go and warmed off to the side, then tuck them under before bed and turn off the heat lamp. The hope is everyone's recovered the next morning, and you can go to heat plate only.

Edit: Wanted to add one more thought. I would always start mail order chicks indoors (I know some people brood outside), and if you can place them in a room where you can crank the heat, that would be even better. We're in peak summer right now, but in March, I used a space heater to get the room up to 75 for those first few days with only a heat plate. It did help and the chicks spent more time out eating and drinking than they would if I left the room at 66-68.

 

[thelordsblessing2017]

Depending on how quickly the chicks arrive, and how healthy they are, most will be fine to use the heat plate immediately. The problem is if some get chilled in transit (weather, or taking too long to arrive) or are weak. A weak, cold chick will sit under the heat plate and not come out to eat or drink.

I lost one chick this way. We removed her hourly to eat/drink on a heated pad, but I wish I had used a heat lamp for just that first day or two. It might have made the difference.

So ideally, you would use a heat lamp for at least the first day to get everyone eating and drinking, then switch to the heat plate that night (without the heat lamp). Have it ready to go and warmed off to the side, then tuck them under before bed and turn off the heat lamp. The hope is everyone's recovered the next morning, and you can go to heat plate only.

Edit: Wanted to add one more thought. I would always start mail order chicks indoors (I know some people brood outside), and if you can place them in a room where you can crank the heat, that would be even better. We're in peak summer right now, but in March, I used a space heater to get the room up to 75 for those first few days with only a heat plate. It did help and the chicks spent more time out eating and drinking than they would if I left the room at 66-68.

Hello,

I too am new to owning chickens and my baby chicks will be arriving in 7 days or so. I live in Florida where the heat index is over 100; do I still need to heat lamp in Florida? They will be indoors in our shed where it is really hot in there (well for me anyways).

If I do, I believe I do have one just need to find where my husband put it LOL

 

[thecatumbrella]

Hello,

I too am new to owning chickens and my baby chicks will be arriving in 7 days or so. I live in Florida where the heat index is over 100; do I still need to heat lamp in Florida? They will be indoors in our shed where it is really hot in there (well for me anyways).

If I do, I believe I do have one just need to find where my husband put it LOL

You'll have to play that by ear. I've attached a chart of recommended temps for your baby chicks by week. You'll see that they gradually need less and less heat. Being shut in a hot shed will run the risk of overheating them. Definitely put a thermometer in there and get an idea of what the temps are like.

That said, I personally don't follow this chart at all. I provide a heat plate that's similar to a mother hen. The chicks go under when they're cold, and come out to eat and drink where it's room temperature. This is more natural for them than being blasted at a constant 95 degrees.

If you're new to chickens, I strongly recommend starting them out in your main living area. You'll want to keep an eye on them for pasty butt, making sure they learn how to eat and drink, or helping a chick that's a little weaker. Seeing as you're in Florida in peak summer, I'd skip the heat lamp and provide a heat plate in their brooder. I'm guessing your house is plenty warm.

 

[thelordsblessing2017]

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. Actually I thought you weren't supposed to have chickens in the house with humans as they can carry diseases is this not true?

Also to the contrary, my house is really cold for some, like my husband lol. I am always hot.. so inside the thermostat is on 70..

But I have do have a camera inside the shed that they will be in..good idea about the thermometer. I will definitely pick one up

Thank you

 

[thecatumbrella]

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. Actually I thought you weren't supposed to have chickens in the house with humans as they can carry diseases is this not true?

Full discloser: I'm a germaphobe.

Chicken poop is obviously gross. I wouldn't clean a chick bum and then make a sandwich without washing my hands. But the chicks themselves are pretty clean for about 10-14 days. After that, they start to exchange their chick fluff for feathers, and the dust is CRAZY! You will not want them in your main living area past that point.

Mine move to the basement, in a curtained off area with an air purifier. Others will continue brooding outside (assuming their temperature needs are met).