Temperature for chicks

[Saroco]

What temperature should the brooder be for day-old chicks? I'm getting my girls next week!!

 

[chickenmom1]

They say 95, if you go to the information part of this website, it will give some info on taking care of chicks or if you go on Murray MacMurray's website they also have a good outline of what to do the first couple of months. I just went through it. Good luck.
j

 

[gritsar]

A rough guideline is 90-95 the first week, decreasing by 5 degrees a week until such time you are down to 70 degrees (end of week five) at which time your chicks should not require supplemental heat.
A better way to tell is to watch your chicks. Chicks that are too cold will be huddled under the heat source, peeping loudly. Chicks that are too warm will be as far away from the heat source as possible, sometimes panting and holding their little wings out. Chicks that are mingling about, sometimes under the heat, sometimes not, are comfortable.

 

[Broodica]

I agree. I was tearing my hair out trying to keep the chicks at 95. They hated it. Too hot. Now I just watch them. They have lots of room to escape if it does get too hot, but I just make sure some are under the light sometimes, some are away from the light, sometimes they are all away from the light, sometimes they are all under it. I figure if they are going back and forth, it must be OK.

Congratulations and Good luck! What kind of chicks are you getting?

 

[BeccaB00]

start at 90 F.
They say to go down 10 degrees everyweek. But normally I just lower the wattage of the light bulb.

 

[chickenmom1]

Good luck! I agree that watching them is the best way. You will see.

 

[Saroco]

Allright! Thanks! I am getting:2 Buff Orpingtons (Jess and Big Bertha), 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes(Amelia and Elsie) , 1 Austrolorp (Gertrude), 1 Red Star (Ethel), and 1 White Plymouth Rock. (Florence)