To hot?

[Wimomof2]

Hi all. We moved the guineas to their new coop from the brooder. They 3 weeks and 3 days old. I have been turning the heat lamp off during the day because it is so hot. So it is 93 degrees in their, i have both windows open, not much of a breeze out. Should i put a fan in there? It is an old fish house we converted, 10x8. I will still turn the heat lamp on at night because it does cool down, but what about during the hot days?

 

[mobius]

might want to use a heating pad setup in stead, that gives baby birds a lot of choice and reduces fire risk.

 

[BlueShadow]

How cold does it actually get in the shed at night? I would guess they are able to tolerate down to 80 without trouble, but it may cool off more than that in the shed overnight. For overnight, in summer weather, I use a 40 or 60 watt red incandescent bulb (usually available at hardware stores or party stores, sometimes Walmart). They definitely don't need the full 250 watts that a farm store heat lamp puts out. If that is all you have/are able to find, be sure to raise it an appropriate distance from the floor so its not too hot, and be sure that their brooder offers enough space that they can get away from the heat if they want to.

During the day, I would do as you do and turn off the heat lamp. 93 really isn't too hot for them, although it is plenty warm. Be sure they always have access to plenty fresh clean water. If leaving the door open is an option, that will help tremendously with ventilation.

 

[Wimomof2]

But should i use a fan? What is to hot for them? I am in WI.

 

[BlueShadow]

Honestly, its hard to say. I live in NE, my birds have to tolerate days of upper 90s and 100s because that's just what the weather is. My coops are well ventilated so that they don't get more than a few degrees warmer than outside, but the birds all have access to shaded outdoor runs and spend the majority of their time outdoors during the day.

It also depends on how long the temperature is that hot. If its only a couple hours during the day that the temperature reaches 93, that's not as much of a concern as if the temperature is above 90 from mid-morning until well after sundown. The birds can tolerate a few hours of a hot temperature, but all day gets to be very stressful for them.

Since yours can't leave and don't get much choice of a cooler place, I would start to run a fan during the day if the temperature is going above 95 in the coop. The fan should be placed so that it is drawing cooler air into the building. In your case, it sounds like it would need to be mounted in one of the windows. Blowing air on the guineas is not going to help them cool off much at all.

 

[Wimomof2]

Ok, thank you. I will be letting them out into the run tomorrow. This will be their first night in there. Lots more space!

 

[GlennLee]

I always use the temperature as a gauge for me - my awareness and a general rule of thumb, but really make a decision for additional ventilation or heat based on their behavior. There have been times when I have adult guineas panting at 75 degrees and other times when they are fine at 90 degrees.

The same goes for keets. I always have an extra heat source at night and into the morning until the sun warms thing up, through their first month and continue it if the temperature inside the coop will be dipping into the 60's at night. It's funny, we're in New York and mine seem to do better with cooler temps, yet friends in the south and mid-west who have guineas find they tolerate the warmer temps better than mine do.

I use an infrared bulb that sits on top of one crate and a sweeter heater (infrared) that I raise and lower on another side. Usually into the 3rd week, they are shut off during the day and turned back on at night.

The coop / barn has a greenhouse fan installed in it and as the temperature warms during the day, I partially open a window and turn the fan on. I don't put a fan directly on them or let the air cause a draft on them. Mine are now 3 weeks and they seem to be fine in 75 degree temp - up, moving around, not huddling together and at 85 degrees, I turn on the fan to exhaust the hot air or if I see them panting.

Hope this helps with a guideline. Your situation may be a bit different, but it's always good to start with ideas from others and go from there. Good luck, enjoy and .

 

[Wimomof2]

Thanks, I did put a fan in there and now it stays about 88 in the coop during the day. Yesterday they came out for the first time and were loving the grass! It was so fun to watch. They are scared of everything so far. I have been ringing a bell at feeding time so hopefully once they are free ranging they will come home! We have over 100 acres and lots of fox and coyote. Loving them!!

 

[GlennLee]

It's so fun to watch them in the grass for the first time and you are right - everything is like it comes from a different planet to them. I use a bell too and although it's not 100%, it sure has been VERY useful and they respond well to it. Plus if you ever need someone else to bring them in, they can do it for you with a bell.

I'm sure they will be loving your 100 acres. Unfortunately, fox and coyote may be a problem. Fingers crossed that they will leave them alone. We had coyote last fall take out several in our flock and this spring, a fox got 7 of them. It's hard to keep them safe while they free range.

Glad to hear that you are loving them. I love them too!