Hi everyone, I just joined today, and I was planning on picking up my chicks tomorrow from Orscheln and writing an introduction then. Well, I went to go buy some non-gmo feed from a farmer I know, and I brought home 4 darling Wyandotte chicks with me. She said they should be around 2 weeks old. I put them in my brooder, but I can't tell if they are too hot or too cold. I've read if they are too hot, they will run to the edges of the brooder, but if they are too cold they will huddle together under the lamp. Not sure if they are doing either one really... The thermometer is reading 82 degrees. They seem huddled up under the heat lamp, but aren't chirping. When I had it closer, around 90 degrees, they had their wings spread out and looked like they were panting, although they were still huddled right under the lamp. What do you think? Thanks in advance, Jessi
They are probably fine. At two weeks, they will need to be around 85 degrees. Just make sure they can get under or away from the light and they will regulate themselves ok,
From what I've read here at this site, new babies are supposed to start off at 95-98 degrees, and then you decrease the temp by 5 degrees every week by moving the lamp higher. Someone more experienced should pipe in here soon...if they are two weeks old, I'd say 90-95 degrees should be about right.
Congrats on the new chicks & Chicks like sleeping near each other. As long as your brooder has the heat lamp at one end so, they can go to the other end and be cooler - they should be fine. When they had their wings spread out - they were too warm. If they are cold they will sleep in a pile - I don't think you have to worry about that. They will do lots of very loud distress chirping if they are uncomfortable. They will make soft chirping when they are happy. You can raise the heat lamp higher to help lower the temperture each week.
