New Chicks Added To Flock!

[Bettyboop7499]

You can lower the temp by raising a heat lamp, I wasn't sure how many inches so I did a quick google search and haven't found an answer, I believe you can test the temperature little by little by raising the heat lamp until it stays around 90 degrees the first week according to this post https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...amp-18-inches-which-one-do-i-go-with.1224954/. 90 might be better since it is summer. You can also watch to see if they move away from the lamp it might be too hot.

I turned the heat lamp off today and they are walking around and seem fine. They are not huddling they are exploring and chirping and eating.

 

[frostic]

Crazy chicken lady in the making or what? praise jeebus lol how can you deal with so many chickens? I have 3 and if they so as flap their wing the wrong way i freak out thinking the worse. If i had that many I'll

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Crazy chicken lady in the making or what? praise jeebus lol how can you deal with so many chickens? I have 3 and if they so as flap their wing the wrong way i freak out thinking the worse. If i had that many I'll

When I asked my husband to see what new chicks Tractor Supply had today....I Knew I was becoming a Crazy Chicken Lady! I was like oh no but I couldn't help myself and asked for five more! And I got four ducklings-they are so freaking cute!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depending on temps you probably don't need a heat lamp at all. This is one advantage of heat plates/heating pads is that the chicks can decide for themselves if they need any heat.

 

[Bettyboop7499]

Depending on temps you probably don't need a heat lamp at all. This is one advantage of heat plates/heating pads is that the chicks can decide for themselves if they need any heat.

Heat plate/heat pads how do those work? Can you even have those if you use pine shavings? Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Heat plate/heat pads how do those work? Can you even have those if you use pine shavings? Thanks!

Heat plates would be something like a Brinsea EcoGlow - if you search "chick heat plate" on Amazon you'll find a bunch of different brands.

A heat pad is exactly what it sounds like, just a human heating pad WITHOUT automatic shut off, that you can attach to a wire frame or anything really. Here's a massive thread all about it: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

And here's a photo of mine (on far left), you can see how homemade it is. It's just a heating pad wrapped in Glad Press n Seal to a piece of wire mesh. The wire mesh was then wired to a dish shelf for a frame, with more Press n Seal. Later on I put a piece of cardboard on top since the chicks sat on it:


I've done a heat lamp and I've done a heating pad. The reason the heat pad works so well is because the chicks can decide for themselves if they need it - it only heats them if they make physical contact with it. The heat level is very low, since it was made for human use, so very little chance of fire risk as long as the unit is in good condition. And there's no artificial light keeping them awake 24/7.