Newly hatched babies

[Kimchoy19]

Can recently hatched babies be outside of the heat index is gonna be 113°? What about week old babies? Also, is using sand a bad idea for the chicks of those two age groups? By outside I mean in a brooder I’m building. They aren’t goin in the same one. Thank for your help.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Even if the heat index is going to be hot, it’s a good idea to put a thermometer inside the brooder to make sure that they’re getting the correct temperature, because sometimes it can dip throughout the day or at night.

Newborn chicks must have a steady temperature of 95 F or else they start to get chilled. So you can always place a heat lamp on the far side of the brooder away from the food and water and see if they go to it.

This is because newborn chicks are usually kept directly warm under their mother by her own body heat. So even though it’s hot outside, it might not be direct enough.

 

[21hens-incharge]

It may be to warm for them.

Being to hot with no way to cool off is just as deadly as being to cool with no way to warm up.

 

[Kimchoy19]

Awesome thank you. Will they know to go to the heat lamp so young?

Even if the heat index is going to be hot, it’s a good idea to put a thermometer inside the brooder to make sure that they’re getting the correct temperature, because sometimes it can dip throughout the day or at night.

Newborn chicks must have a steady temperature of 95 F or else they start to get chilled. So you can always place a heat lamp on the far side of the brooder away from the food and water and see if they go to it.

This is because newborn chicks are usually kept directly warm under their mother by her own body heat. So even though it’s hot outside, it might not be direct enough.

 

[Kimchoy19]

Also would sand give them splayed leg? Hope that’s what that’s called.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

Sand might not, because it has similar properties to dirt, but be careful that they don’t ingest it at such a young age. I usually use shavings for the first week or two and then go with other substances like sand or dirt.

Also yes, if the heat lamp is placed in the correct area the chicks will go to it when cold and move away when it’s warm. Basically, if the chicks chirp a lot and are loud, something is wrong. Either too hot or too cold.

 

[Kimchoy19]

Ok. Got it thank you so much.