New chicks warm enough? Question.

[goodeggsforyou]

Hi All. My 1 1/2 week old chicks seem to being doing well, however, I find them huddling up together sleeping in a corner of their brooder box instead of under their heat lamp. Initially I thought they might be too hot so moved the lamp up to cool things off, however, then they seemed too cool as they were huddling beneath it so I moved it back down again. It only feels about 75 degrees under the lamp (at their level). My understanding is that at this point they will probably like temps approx. 80-85 degrees, so I think they may be cold. So...
if the chicks are too cold, why do they huddle up in a corner of their box over by their water instead of underneath their heat lamp? (It's infrared if that makes any difference here.) Does this make sense? I really doubt they are too hot; they do spend time under the lamp sometimes.

Thoughts? Thanks for any wisdom.

 

[Flyingbavarian]

Do you have a thermometer in the brooder? If not you should get one so you know exactly what the temp is, for 1.5 weeks i think around 90 degrees is what you want them at. If the temp under the heat lamp is good maybe its drafty?

 

[they'reHISchickens]

My chicks pile up too because they like company, not because they are cold.
Are they quiet? If they are quiet, they are just right
I just took some newborns out of my hatcher and placed them under a light. They are sound asleep in a half circle around the perimeter of the light and are sooooo quiet you don't even know they are there! I have no idea what temperature is. If they were cold they would be under the main beam, not on the outside. So long as they have room to move away from the heat if they want, and they are quiet, they are happy.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
I agree, make sure your checking on the temps!

 

[gryeyes]

The problem with an infrared heat lamp is that it does not heat the AIR in the brooder, it heats surfaces of things, like the brooder wall, the bedding, the chicks. Putting a hand in there to check the temp will not tell you if they chicks are warm or cold, and thermometers don't really register the temperature properly.

I have never used a thermometer. I start out with my infrared light secured quite high and by watching the chicks' behavior, I determine if I need to lower it or not. I also keep it at one end of the brooder bin, so the other end of the brooder bin - where the feeder and waterer are kept - is cooler and the chicks can move there if they happen to get too warm right under the lamp.

 

[:)]

They should be 96-98 degrees Fariegnheight (think i spelled that wrong) So they are probably cold.

 

[Fred's Hens]

:

They should be 96-98 degrees Fariegnheight (think i spelled that wrong) So they are probably cold.

Second week? too hot!!! Sorry, don't mean to sound disagreeable, that is simply too warm, especially in a small brooder where there's little room to self regulate.​

 

[goodeggsforyou]

Thanks to All for the great suggestions and thoughts.

Lots of good points and truly helpful. It is so nice to have this resource.
I will say this. They do rest quietly, sweetly, and peacefully and have plenty of room to move away from the lamp if need be.