Springtime in Montana means sun, rain, snow, ice and windy -- all in the same day, sometimes. Lately, we've been having 40-50sF days and 20-30sF nights. When I got my chicks on the 1st, I put a heat mat out (the kind you use for outdoor dogs) and a brooder lamp. I've closed the barn at night and when the weather was most inclement. I have pine shavings as bedding and plenty of water that I've put on the mat so it wouldn't freeze and lots of food.
The chicks seem pretty happy overall. They eat, drink, cuddle, sleep with each other and they all get along. They even like the turkeys and geese, whom they've found to be odd bedfellows but they get along with all the same. I give them treats at night of cooked rice and lettuce ripped up (the geese love it) and small bits of apple. I have chick grit out so they can eat.
The chicks sometimes do the mosh pit thing around the brooder even though it is very warm underneath and they have the mat as a backup. When they get around to doing things, they sometimes go around the pen, but like to stay closest to the heat. I feel kind of bad for them, because I suspect its not as warm as they might like, but I don't have any other options.
I know they move the shavings around and eat and drink just fine. They're growing bigger and the big ones are happy to snuggle with the little ones. I just think the young ones get a little cool. The brooder is 250W and 18 inches from the heat mat. Both are very warm. The barn is unheated, but I have them in a corner away from the drafts.
Last night was probably the chilliest at just below 20F. When I saw the chicks, they were fine but they were snuggled together. It was warm underneath the lamp and on the pad. I'm wondering what else I could possibly do?
Am I worrying too much?
The chicks seem pretty happy overall. They eat, drink, cuddle, sleep with each other and they all get along. They even like the turkeys and geese, whom they've found to be odd bedfellows but they get along with all the same. I give them treats at night of cooked rice and lettuce ripped up (the geese love it) and small bits of apple. I have chick grit out so they can eat.
The chicks sometimes do the mosh pit thing around the brooder even though it is very warm underneath and they have the mat as a backup. When they get around to doing things, they sometimes go around the pen, but like to stay closest to the heat. I feel kind of bad for them, because I suspect its not as warm as they might like, but I don't have any other options.
Last night was probably the chilliest at just below 20F. When I saw the chicks, they were fine but they were snuggled together. It was warm underneath the lamp and on the pad. I'm wondering what else I could possibly do?
