Temperature issues

[crapitsedy]

Hello yall!

I'm having an issue with the temperatures in my brooder, its a open wire dog kennel (with cardboard on the inside so they don't try to fly out) and I have moved the light up several inches as under the light is at 100 degrees and the cool side is 85. It had to be at least 3 inches lower and I'm still getting getting same Temps.

My chicks are at 2/3 weeks, although my EE is most likely at 3/4 because most of her wing feathers have come in.

They are in the house but in an un air conditioned room. We live in FL but are in our "winter" as tonight it will be 50 degrees but it was 70 during the day.

I have the ceiling fan going to help circulate the air and try to keep it cooler but I'm honestly at a loss at what I can do. I'm most worried about EE because she is definitely the oldest and needs her temp lowered.

Also, the chicks were purchased from Rural King so unfortunately I don't have their exact age. I'm going based off of chick time lines I've seen posted on the internet.

 

[crapitsedy]

I should have also mentioned that they are not panting or peeping loudly when they go to sleep. They all huddle at the cool side which made me think it was getting to hot. As I started to move the light up this afternoon is when I realized the temp was not going down.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I don’t use a thermometer for chick heat lamps, I base it all off of how the chicks act. If they were huddling outside of the heat lamp, I would’ve raised the lamp also.

 

[crapitsedy]

They sleep in a group but not tightly, sorry should have specified. I have seen them all put their heads on each other's backs, but I don't think they're freezing.

These are my first chicks so I got the thermometer thinking I could better set their temperature but I may have to just go off their behavior. I'm wondering if this continues to stay around 100 if I could get a lower wattage bulb maybe?

 

[CluckerFamily]

They sleep in a group but not tightly, sorry should have specified. I have seen them all put their heads on each other's backs, but I don't think they're freezing.

These are my first chicks so I got the thermometer thinking I could better set their temperature but I may have to just go off their behavior. I'm wondering if this continues to stay around 100 if I could get a lower wattage bulb maybe?

I use the 250 watt heat lamp lightbulb, I just keep raising it as needed.
Hopefully, someone else has knowledge of a lower wattage bulb.

 

[crapitsedy]

I use the 250 watt heat lamp lightbulb, I just keep raising it as needed.
Hopefully, someone else has knowledge of a lower wattage bulb.

Thank you! I have the 250 watt as well. I have experience with reptiles and was hoping I could use a lower watt.

The lamp is currently using a stand, which the bottom part is under the cage to ensure it not falling over. I don't feeling comfortable putting the entire stand on a paving stone or something and losing that stability

 

[CluckerFamily]

I am great about rigging things.
My brooder is a stock tank and I have a simple cheap wood baby gate that is adjustable. I put the baby gate opposite of the way it is suppose to be used and clamp the heat lamp to the gate, then I can adjust the gate to be longer to move the lamp up. I should mention that the gate is sandwiched between the tank and a cupboard but if the cupboard wasn’t there, I would use clamps to hold the gate in place.

 

[crapitsedy]

I am great about rigging things.
My brooder is a stock tank and I have a simple cheap wood baby gate that is adjustable. I put the baby gate opposite of the way it is suppose to be used and clamp the heat lamp to the gate, then I can adjust the gate to be longer to move the lamp up. I should mention that the gate is sandwiched between the tank and a cupboard but if the cupboard wasn’t there, I would use clamps to hold the gate in place.

You have a gift!! I'll be watching the babies behavior and if it starts looking like it will be to hot ill look into a clamp or a lower wattage bulb. I asked my husband about the bulb and he said he doesn't see why it wouldn't work.

 

[NatJ]

My chicks are at 2/3 weeks, although my EE is most likely at 3/4 because most of her wing feathers have come in.

They are in the house but in an un air conditioned room. We live in FL but are in our "winter" as tonight it will be 50 degrees but it was 70 during the day.

Try unplugging the heat lamp tomorrow morning. They may not need it at all, considering their age and that they are inside your house. Try it in the daytime first, so you can hear if they start peeping about being too cold.

Ignore any peeping in the first 15 minutes after you unplug it. They may yell because it's unfamiliar, but they will not be cold enough to worry about in that time. If they do not settle down within 15-30 minutes, then try providing heat again.

(This is by far the simplest fix, if they are ready for it.)

I'm wondering if this continues to stay around 100 if I could get a lower wattage bulb maybe?

If they still need some heat, yes you can try a lower wattage bulb. That is a very good idea.

open wire dog kennel (with cardboard on the inside so they don't try to fly out)

I have the ceiling fan going to help circulate the air and try to keep it cooler

It might be cooler if you remove some of the carboard, so air can move in and out more easily. In the photo, the chicks look too big to fit between the bars (but do check before removing the cardboard--chicks are mostly fluff, so it's hard to judge what they can fit through.)

Also, you may be able to aim the heat lamp differently. It makes a round puddle of light. If the entire puddle is inside the crate, there is a lot of warm area. But if half of the puddle of light is inside the crate at one end, and half is outside the crate, there will be more cool space inside the crate.

 

[crapitsedy]

Try unplugging the heat lamp tomorrow morning. They may not need it at all, considering their age and that they are inside your house. Try it in the daytime first, so you can hear if they start peeping about being too cold.

Ignore any peeping in the first 15 minutes after you unplug it. They may yell because it's unfamiliar, but they will not be cold enough to worry about in that time. If they do not settle down within 15-30 minutes, then try providing heat again.

(This is by far the simplest fix, if they are ready for it.)



If they still need some heat, yes you can try a lower wattage bulb. That is a very good idea.




It might be cooler if you remove some of the carboard, so air can move in and out more easily. In the photo, the chicks look too big to fit between the bars (but do check before removing the cardboard--chicks are mostly fluff, so it's hard to judge what they can fit through.)

Also, you may be able to aim the heat lamp differently. It makes a round puddle of light. If the entire puddle is inside the crate, there is a lot of warm area. But if half of the puddle of light is inside the crate at one end, and half is outside the crate, there will be more cool space inside the crate.

Thank you so much!! I work full time so I won't be able to monitor their temperature during the heat of the day but I will Definitely change the area of light!! I can't believe I didn't even think of that!

Luckily the room is all tile so i don't have to worry about a fire hazard. Seriously thank you so much for responding!