Newbie needing help

[ChickNanny13]

2x paneubert - remove the light and you will need to work on a bigger brooder. You have 7, they will out grown that bin sooner than you know. If you can get an appliance box (refrigerator) they work great. You will probably need a lid cause they will be testing their wings once they start feathering.

The smaller ones are probably snug as a bug in a rug. I switched over to MHP & have noticed chicks are quieter, less skittish and calmer than when I used a heat light. It's like a hen, security & warmth.

My Grand daughter got 2 Silkies 7 months ago for her Ag Class, breeder said cockerels. She sent me pics & she now has a pair

Glad you joined us and welcome. You'll find this a very helpful, informative & friendly group.

 

[Bulldog4675]

I wasnt sure if the lihgt was needed to replicate daylight hours. I was also worried that the plate wouldnt be enough. Without the lamp, it is about 90 under the plate and a lot colder away from it. But then again i didnt really give it the plate time to regulate the box temp with a cover on the box

 

[Bulldog4675]

2x paneubert - remove the light and you will need to work on a bigger brooder. You have 7, they will out grown that bin sooner than you know. If you can get an appliance box (refrigerator) they work great. You will probably need a lid cause they will be testing their wings once they start feathering.

The smaller ones are probably snug as a bug in a rug. I switched over to MHP & have noticed chicks are quieter, less skittish and calmer than when I used a heat light. It's like a hen, security & warmth.

My Grand daughter got 2 Silkies 7 months ago for her Ag Class, breeder said cockerels. She sent me pics & she now has a pair

Glad you joined us and welcome. You'll find this a very helpful, informative & friendly group.

 

[Bulldog4675]

How are the temps in your brood box away from the heat plate? Does the plate regulate the rest of the box over time?

 

[paneubert]

How are the temps in your brood box away from the heat plate? Does the plate regulate the rest of the box over time?

The plate is not intended to warm anything other than the area directly under it. You do not need your brooder to be at a certain temp. You just need enough area to be warm enough for the chicks. If they fit under the plate, then that is all they need. Also, the plate is not meant to warm the shavings, it is meant for them to stick their back against to directly warm themselves. The underside of the plate is most likely something like 120 degrees......which is by design. If you had a laser thermometer you could check. Normal thermometer a lot harder to use for that measurement.

 

[paneubert]

I'm not saying stick the brooder in a room that is 40 degrees, but I am saying that a temperature gradient that spans quite a range of temperature is fine. The food and water can be 60 degrees. They will go eat and then go warm up.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Are they in the house or out? If there's no light you can do the light to regulate night and day but move it so it's not over the bin. Temp is fine under the plate and should be cooler away from it, allows chicks to regulate their needs = running in and out from under the hen. It also helps them to acclimate to the temps for when they don't need the plate. You will need to adjust the height of the plate as they grow, they won't need as much warmth.

 

[Melky]

I wasnt sure if the lihgt was needed to replicate daylight hours. I was also worried that the plate wouldnt be enough. Without the lamp, it is about 90 under the plate and a lot colder away from it. But then again i didnt really give it the plate time to regulate the box temp with a cover on the box

One heat source is fine. You want them to go to heat when needed and move away when need to cool themselves. You do not want the whole box the same temp.

 

[loveyah44]

From my experience, it's not so much the temp you need to watch, it's the behavior of the chicks. If they are huddling under the light, they want to be warmer. If they all stay away from it, they are too hot. Just make sure they have enough room to get away from the heat if needed. When they are hot, they show signs of panting and spreading wings to cool down. Sometimes a majority will be cold, while one or two bigger chicks will be too warm to be directly under the heat source.

New chicks undergo stress, especially when shipped. Make sure they all get a drink of water, don't dip for too long, just a little dip to show them the water is there. They can also drown in small amounts of water, so a shallow waterer is best, and if you have to add some marbles or rocks to fill in the space, you can easily do that. That also helps them to get some traction and get out, if they get in the waterer..

I've added a little apple cider vinegar to water for new chicks, but I've never used anything else personally.

When they are stressed, I've found it best to try to leave them alone. They've already been through a lot, so it helps to just have some space to adjust to the new environment.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

Have you seen any of them drink? If not showing them the water would be my first priority after removing the heat lamp. I too would recommend filling the waterer with marbles or pebbles. I will also show a couple where the food is as well. What's the temperature in the room where the brooder is?