Temperature Issues In a Brooder When It Aready is 95 degrees OR higher

[User48]

I live in the Central Valley of California where 100 degree weather at this time of year is fairly typical. I have 4 chicks - my first - arriving either on Wednesday or Thursday & am prepared with a homemade brooder set up including a red heat lamp - basically the set up recommended by MyPetchicken.com I am confused, though, about how to address the heat lamp issue if it already is 95 or even hotter. Obviously at night it cools off, and then the heat lamp will play a role, but during the day is there any incedental value that the heat lamp offers that makes it necessary, or are the chicks heat needs being met so long as it is already 95 degrees (or higher). This feels like a REALLY dumb question, but I admit being stumped (and feeling like an idiot), so I'm asking now so that my new chicks don't pay the price from whatever elder moment has robbed my brain.

Many thanks,
Laura

 

[Ellie]

Glad you asked. I am getting some next week and I too live where it is very hot. I wondered this myself.

The room I want to keep them in is at 80 without doing anything at all to it. I will get the lamp, but it will be hard keeping it cool enough, I think.

Ellie

 

[speckledhen]

If you are at 80 degrees in the house or higher, I think I'd put them under a regular 40 watt bulb a couple of feet above their heads and see how they do. Watch them and how they react. If they crowd AWAY from the lamp, they're too hot. Just use common sense.

 

[peepkeeper]

I agree with SpeckledHen. You can probably use a low watt bulb and watch their body language. If they're huddled under the light peeping loudly, they're cold. Splayed out as far as they can get, too hot. Comfortable chicks spread out in the brooder and make contented sounds. You'll know the difference when you hear it!

 

[silkiechicken]

I say go ahead and return that red heat lamp. I brood my chicks outside and even then only use a 100W regular lamp when it gets into the 40's at night. I say maybe even use a fluorescent light for day hours and a 40 W at night. Just keep an eye out on them and see how they are behaving. Good luck!

 

[User48]

Thanks a lot, guys. I really appreciate the feedback (and so do my future chicks!)

 

[MandyH]

I have a "hatching house" that is a a shed we insulated, put up paneling, and a air conditioner in. It has been 102 and 103 outside all week. I set my a/c thermostat on 79 degrees and have a 50w household light bulb in each brooder. They are fine with that. I currently have 200 chicks in 3 different brooders set up that way. I have just put 10 dozen more eggs in the hatcher tonight. You will know if they are panting to pull the light up away from them, or if they are all huddled together in one big lump that the light needs lowering.

 

[Chelly]

I received 8 chicks last week, its SO hot here I don't use a lamp during the day at all - and keep my eye on it at night.
It maintains 82-86 during the day, and I set my ceramic heat lamp to that temp for night.