mixed age brooder temperature?

[ljkraemer]

I have 4, (What I think are) 4-week old chicks and 2, (What I think are) 3-week old chicks all of different breeds. One of the younger chicks is a polish and is definitely on the smaller side. I have a red heat lamp on 24/7 and its probably hanging about 4' above the brooder. It is about 80 on the floor of the brooder below the lamp. The brooder is two low sided boxes taped together with pine shavings. Behavior wise, the birds still sleep on the side of the brooder under the lamp, so either my thermometer is off, or these birds just like it warm. On occasion, the little polish chick will cheep constantly and try to wiggle herself underneath the wings of one of the larger birds. She definitely always likes to sleep next to another bird as well. I know that the older birds are ready for the lamp to be shut off as they are almost fully feathered. I also don't want these older birds to become reliant on the heat lamp (is that even a thing?). But I really think the little polish still needs the lamp. The chicks are in a smaller basement bathroom with the door closed. I keep the ceiling vent fan running 24/7 to help pull some of the heat up and out, as when I don't have the fan on, the room gets REALLY warm. There are no drafts however. I'll probably be moving them out to our insulated/attached garage here in a week or so, as they're just getting too big and making a giant mess. Coop delivery is still a couple weeks away... What should I do about these big birds needing less/no heat, and the little guy still definitely needing it? Any ideas?

 

[rosemarythyme]

How big is the brooder? If possible expand the brooder space (if not possible now, then when they get to the garage) so the older birds can move further from the heat if they wish, but continue to provide heat for the younger ones.

 

[ljkraemer]

How big is the brooder? If possible expand the brooder space (if not possible now, then when they get to the garage) so the older birds can move further from the heat if they wish, but continue to provide heat for the younger ones.

It’s approximately 4x 4’. Pic attached.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Pretty good amount of space for the number of birds and you have the heat on one side which is good. You could probably reduce the temperatures a more since the younger ones are snuggling up with the older ones, which will help keep them warm.