ONE WK OLD: poll for those who measure the temp in the brooder

[swanny297]

I switched to a premier plate and 40w bulb they love the plate most of the time they sleep under it sometimes on top when I shoot my heat gun at the bottom it registers about 95 degrees at the plate so probably 85 degrees radiant my RIR are 2wks old and will be getting a bigger brooder Thursday my rubbermaid tub is to small and short they will jump from the top of the plate and roost on the edge of the container when I take the top off to clean

 

[lazy gardener]

When I used a heat lamp when brooding in the garage, I did use a thermometer, just for my peace of mind. It got VERY cold out there! And I had the heat lamps on a dimmer switch and was always fiddling with it. (there were a LOT of meat and DP chicks in that brooder, with 2 bulbs to accomodate all of them.) Since switching to a heat pad brooder, I don't ever use a thermometer. Chicks stay inside for the first 24 - 48 hours out of the bator, then go right out to the coop with their heat pad.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I use a thermometer to set my initial temperature and when I make adjustments, it's easy and I know where I'm at, though I will also use their behavior to determine if it's comfortable. I usually start brooding closer to 85 degrees, but I also brood later in the spring so not as much extra heat is needed. I only use a 125 watt bulb.

 

[mrv19]

I appreciate EVERYONE chiming in..just wondered if anyone who does know the actual temp in their brooder at 1 wk ever found that a certain temp was too cold. Its my first time with chicks and just wanna be sure im doing it right. Im trying to tryst their behavior but sometimes knowing I'm running their temps the same as others helps

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I recommend between 85-90 for the first week, you don't want to chill them initially, the older they get the more they can handle getting cooler for a while, but that first week keep them warm enough.

 

[azygous]

The first week is pretty critical, and the chicks are being launched on their little lives from having just fought their way out of an egg after being between 90 and 100F for 21 days. Since we know that any wide temperature variance causes stress in a chicken of any age, we definitely don't want that wide temp variance to occur with baby chicks during that first week.

Therefore, 85F would be the very lowest I would go during the first week.

 

[LABstrong]

Maybe I'm crazy here but I think really the only thing that matters is that they have a place to get under that is warm, similar to a mother hen's body heat, no matter what the brooder temp is. My chicks have been hatched indoors under the Brinsea EcoGlow with room temps in the low 60's and I have also had them hatch and raised outdoors with a broody mom in temps that were in the 40's at night. They are smart enough to get under the heat when they're cold. I can not speak to how you do it with just a bulb however. In that case, you probably do have to be more careful about the overall temp in the brooder. Hope that helps!

 

[lazy gardener]

I appreciate EVERYONE chiming in..just wondered if anyone who does know the actual temp in their brooder at 1 wk ever found that a certain temp was too cold. Its my first time with chicks and just wanna be sure im doing it right. Im trying to tryst their behavior but sometimes knowing I'm running their temps the same as others helps

There are a lot of variables in even this: Are the chicks hatched at home? Are they shipped? IMO, if they are shipped, they have that stress to overcome, and therefore may require more heat. Also, some breeds, not necessarily just speaking about the breed, but the strain within the breed are more fragile than others. Also, how many chicks? Less than 6 chicks will most likely need more heat than 25 chicks. I've found that large broods of chicks wean from heat much easier b/c they are able to generate more heat as a group. Do they have access to sunlight? Are they given short periods of time without any extra heat? I tend to be more cautious the first 2 days. This IMO mimics the way Mama tends to keep them tied to her apron strings the first couple of days, then she slowly gives them more freedom.

 

[mrv19]

Thank you! I measured tge temp today when i woke up, was just around 78 in are ubder the light. 2 were sleeping there and the other 2 were sleeping soundly on the outskirts. Even with temp now down to high 70s they are bouncing arounf happily in the brooder at 7 days old. I just worried cuz "textbooks" make it sound like temp should still be 85-90 at this time. I have only 4, they did not hatch at home i purchased them from a local farmstore a day after they were delivered at 2 days old.