Power is out in Fresno, CA

[Caseym1717]

Hello! Quick question. Power has been out since 5 am until around 7:30 am. Chicks are 3 weeks old in coop outside where it was 80-85 degrees with heat lamp. There is now a power outage and I’m not sure if i should bring them inside for warmth or if the coop should stay pretty warm. It’s an enclosed coop bought from TSC. It’s currently 52 degrees out and almost 100% humidity.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Are they feathered?

 

[Caseym1717]

Are they feathered?

Yes, about 80% feathered. The power just came back on so now I’m one happy mama and can go back to bed. Thank you!

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Yes, about 80% feathered. The power just came back on so now I’m one happy mama and can go back to bed. Thank you!

Oh, well that solves your problem! But once they are fully feathered I would take that heat away from them IMMEDIATELY. It’s not good in the long run but since they are not fully feathered they probably need it. But then again, I don’t know how warm it is by you! Today the high is 30F here in WI!

 

[aart]

But once they are fully feathered I would take that heat away from them IMMEDIATELY.

Better to start slowly reducing heat after week one...
....they'll let you know what they need, if you pay attention.

Chicks are 3 weeks old in coop outside where it was 80-85 degrees with heat lamp.

Hopefully the whole coop is not that warm.

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:
They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.


The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.

Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate



Huddle Box
Make them a 'huddle box', put it in the brooder after turning off the heat(you might have to 'persuade' them to use it) then move it out to the coop with them.

Cardboard box with a bottom a little bigger than what they need to cuddle next to each other without piling and tall enough for them to stand in.

Cut an opening on one side a couple inches from bottom and big enough for 2-3 of them to go thru at once.

Fill the bottom with some pine shavings an inch or so deep.

This will give them a cozy place to sleep/rest, block any drafts and help hold their body heat in.