Scared about Brooder Temp?

[Acornewell]

My babes are 4 weeks old on Monday!

During the day the temp in the garage where the brooder is gets pretty hot. The temp I have been trying to maintain currently is between 75-80 in the brooder. It is just after 12 noon and the brooder temp is at 86.2 degrees and will continue to rise as we get direct sunlight beating down on that side of the house the rest of the day.

I have turned off the lamp, and placed screens over the brooder for airflow, turned on a fan (away from them but to circulate), and prop open the doors, placed a frozen two liter bottle in the back. All of these things help bring the temp down...just not enough. I am afraid of them getting overheated. Should I bring them inside?

One WONDERFUL investment I made is a thermometer that I place in the brooder and it transmits the temp to the receiver I have with me inside...so I can always check the temp from where I am. I go outside and spend a lot of time with them, but this is wonderful incase I get super busy and cant check on them at that moment...it gives me piece of mind.
I will be able to use it inside their coop too! LOVE IT! http://www.meijer.com/s/the-weather-channel-wireless-thermometer/_/R-202455

 

[RonC]

At four weeks old they shouldn't require any additional heat unless it cools significantly at night. Mine were outside in their coop at that age(four weeks) with temps dropping to mid to low 50's at night. What temperature is it getting to during the afternoons where they are? You might be better letting the temperture drop down at night so it doesn't peak out as hot during the day depending on your temp range. I wouldn't worry so much about a draft from the fan if temps are that high. Plenty of cool water and possibly adding electrolytes may be necessary. Also consider moving them outside to a shaded coop/run if possble for more airflow. Mine are older at six months but survived the summer of one hundred plus temps being outside with plenty of shade. On days when there was no wind I placed a fan blowing into the run for circulation and they all made it.

 

[Margitas]

My babes are 4 weeks old on Monday!

During the day the temp in the garage where the brooder is gets pretty hot. The temp I have been trying to maintain currently is between 75-80 in the brooder. It is just after 12 noon and the brooder temp is at 86.2 degrees and will continue to rise as we get direct sunlight beating down on that side of the house the rest of the day.

I have turned off the lamp, and placed screens over the brooder for airflow, turned on a fan (away from them but to circulate), and prop open the doors, placed a frozen two liter bottle in the back. All of these things help bring the temp down...just not enough. I am afraid of them getting overheated. Should I bring them inside?

One WONDERFUL investment I made is a thermometer that I place in the brooder and it transmits the temp to the receiver I have with me inside...so I can always check the temp from where I am. I go outside and spend a lot of time with them, but this is wonderful incase I get super busy and cant check on them at that moment...it gives me piece of mind.
I will be able to use it inside their coop too! LOVE IT! http://www.meijer.com/s/the-weather-channel-wireless-thermometer/_/R-202455

You can turn off the heat lamp and just use the 60 Watt regular bulb.

 

[donrae]

Can you just move them to the coop now? 4 weeks at this time of year don't really need any extra heat at night.

 

[Acornewell]

The temp during the day has been almost 80 and the temp at night can sometimes drop in the low 50's

 

[RonC]

80-90 degrees in the day is no problem if they have water and shade. At four weeks unless they are a breed that feathers out slowly they shouldn't need any additional heat even with low 50's at night. Just make sure they are in a draft free envirment at night and they will be fine. If it makes you feel better put a small (60 w) bulb to give them a little heat at night and move them to the coop. Let 'em be chickens.