The "right" setting is one where they go in and out. If it is too low, they will stay in all the time. If too hot, they won't go in, or not very far. From your description I would say it is too high now.
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They are currently in one of the rooms that with the door closed and vent closed still ends up the warmest room in the house. I'll defiantly have to warm it back up when they move to the porch but Mom still thinks they are cute and stink free. They do go under to sleep at night but most of the day they are on top. Have to keep the door closed because I don't trust the cat even though they are shut inside a dog crate.It is a learning process the first time through but one that isn't too hard to figure out. As long as the smallest can get their backs up against the pad somewhere in the cave, things are good.
Depending on the ambient temp in the room where you are brooding them, you might need to lower the temp again but they will show you what you need to do by their behavior.
The sleepy one was the last to hatch. Only 8 hours old. I have shown her food and water but she is still young. She hatched all on her own about 18 hours after external pip but after the 48 hour hatch period.As my erstwhile buddies have said, their behavior tells you more than anything. I'd keep an eye on the sleepy one....she may not be as strong as the others and may have an issue that hasn't shown up yet. Turn the pad down, by all means. I only used 6 when they were being brooded outside and the temps were in the 20s out there. Even then it wasn't for too many days. When I did my first batch, I did have the pad on high, and they did fine, but the room they were in was only 69 degrees. After just a couple of days, I turned it down another notch. You've gotten really good advice so I won't muddy up the waters.
You have done a great job already just in your carefully noted observations of your chicks' activities. That's key! Good job!!
The sleepy one was the last to hatch. Only 8 hours old. I have shown her food and water but she is still young. She hatched all on her own about 18 hours after external pip but after the 48 hour hatch period.
Maybe only for the first one or two nights...after that I'd say no.Should I have a dim nightlight near the brooder so they CAN eat at night if they need to?