New brooder and chicks

[debid]

You don't want the whole brooder at 102! Having the ability to cool off is just as important as being able to warm under a lamp. So, heat one area and let the rest be ambient temp. If you think about it, mama hen doesn't heat the air around her and it's normal for the chicks to leave her side, scratch and peck and explore, and then return to rest where it's warm.

BTW, thermometers measure air temp. If you're using an infrared lamp, it's pretty much impossible to accurately gauge the effect with a thermometer. Instead, watch the chicks. Cuddled under the lamp to sleep and active at other times is perfect. Incessant cheeping and piling is cold. Panting and avoiding the lamp is too hot.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

102F is far too hot. The first week they want to be 95F then you can raise the lamp to lower temp to 90F second week and so on. Like Debid said, you only want to heat one end of the brooder so they can move to area of temperature they want. They'll regulate their own temp if you give them a choice.

 

[Trefoil]

Forgive me for the unwanted/ unasked for advice. Even if you get them from TSC, dip their beaks in the water as you put them in the brooder and observe that they are eating & drinking. It only takes a few minutes and better safe than sorry. Also always put lukewarm water out for the chicks, cold will give them poppy butt. If they get poppy butt, put a little olive oil on their butts after cleaning them off, it makes it much easier the next time. If you are brooding in the house, a heat lamp isn't necessary. You can start with a 100 watt bulb and raise/lower it or as the needed temp decreases go to a lower wattage. Most feed stores sell a powder probiotics/vitamin/mineral mix that goes in the water, its cheap and gets them off to a good start. Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[debid]

What's the wattage on your bulb? How many inches above the floor? I used 100W at 16" for 10 chicks in spring... And my brooder was in an unheated space with a 50/50 solid/wire ceiling. It was plenty.

 

[topgunn601]

I have the thermometer about a foot from th lamp. They aren't huddled up they seem to be ruining around a scratching and picking everything. I moved the food and water away from the lamp as to not get it hot. They appear to b doing fine not a lot of excessive peeping. I adjusted the towels back a lil gonna go check now to see

 

[topgunn601]

1 foot from the lamp is 98 at the furthest point from the lamp is 80.?.?. Does that sound ok or to much heat

 

[debid]

Are you not sure on the wattage? I can tell you that if you bought it at Tractor Supply, it's 250. That's more than twice what you need for brooding in a heated space so you're not only wasting money with burning excessive watts, you risk overheating them. I'd get the towels off and see if the cool end drops to match your thermostat. Also, if they don't go directly under the lamp to sleep, it's too warm.

 

[topgunn601]

With the towels off it stays around 85 about a foot from the lamp. When I posted last they were around 6" from the lamp. Scratching around peeping here and there didn't seem to b uncomfortable.

 

[topgunn601]

75 at furthest point from lamp. They were together not on top of each other tho just behind the light not directly under it.

 

[CluckAcres]

We lost one of the twins this morning. Not sure what happened. When I checked them at 7 this mornin I clean there hind ends and it seemed fine. My wife got it out for a few min. and took some pics seemed fine. Bout an hour later I checked them again and it was Layin on its side no movement I picked it up it perked up for a min then just stopped breathing right in my hand IDK what happened!!!


R.I.P lil buddy!!

I just hatched a chick that looks just like this. Had strips down its head and back . Mine was a cochin.