- Apr 21, 2012
- 53
- 0
- 39
First, remember I am quite new to chickens. Last Friday I got 6 chicks, who were 3 days old. Today Wednesday, I got 15 chicks I ordered through the mail. I put them all in together because there is only 5 days difference in their ages.
From day one, I have been having a problem with keeping the heat correct for the chicks. I have them in a spare room, and truly after much thought, it is the only place in the house for them. But, its on the west side of the house, and as the afternoon comes... that room turns very hot. At one point I checked, and it was up to 110 with the heat lamp on. So I shut it off. The problem is, without it on, I keep checking the temps (two thermometers, one at each end of the box) and it can drop to 80. So I have to keep turning light back on to warm it up. I just seem to be doing this all afternoon, into the evening... turn it on, shut it off. I have had some people tell me they "didn't use heat lamps in their day"... will it be okay to just leave the light off for the afternoons??
My problem is, I have two family members in the hospital, and I am not going to be able to stay here all afternoon even everyday, keep turning the light on and off to regulate heat for the chicks. I don't have anyone who can "chick sit" for me. The 6 older ones were doing ok with light off for a few hours in after noon. I don't know if the younger ones will be able to handle this... any ideas?
Thanks for you adivce!
From day one, I have been having a problem with keeping the heat correct for the chicks. I have them in a spare room, and truly after much thought, it is the only place in the house for them. But, its on the west side of the house, and as the afternoon comes... that room turns very hot. At one point I checked, and it was up to 110 with the heat lamp on. So I shut it off. The problem is, without it on, I keep checking the temps (two thermometers, one at each end of the box) and it can drop to 80. So I have to keep turning light back on to warm it up. I just seem to be doing this all afternoon, into the evening... turn it on, shut it off. I have had some people tell me they "didn't use heat lamps in their day"... will it be okay to just leave the light off for the afternoons??
My problem is, I have two family members in the hospital, and I am not going to be able to stay here all afternoon even everyday, keep turning the light on and off to regulate heat for the chicks. I don't have anyone who can "chick sit" for me. The 6 older ones were doing ok with light off for a few hours in after noon. I don't know if the younger ones will be able to handle this... any ideas?
Thanks for you adivce!