too hot? Panting

[fours2many]

I have my chicks in a brooder. There are 10 / 2 week old chicks. 3 are cornish rock. Also, there are 10 4 day old chicks. They all get along well.

Anyway, tonight we checked on them and Dinner (the largest cornish rock) was sitting right next to the water and panting. He kept taking drinks and then panted some more. We took him out for a few minutes, letting him sit on the cooler concrete. He seemed better, so we put him back in the brooder. He looks fine now, but I am worried. We live in SW florida. It is actually very warm in the garage tonight. I took out the 100 watt bulb and put in a 75, but it still seemed to warm, so we changed it to a 60 watt. I still need the babies to stay warm.

I was thinking maybe he fell a sleep under the lamp, woke hot, couldn't cool down, even 4 feet away from it. My question is, do you think I can run the ceiling fan for the night (yes we have a ceiling fan in the garage)? Or will the fan cause too much of a draft for the other birds? I could always bring dinner and Stew in for the night. I have the air conditioner running. Would I need to keep heat on them in the house? They are very large, a lot of adult feathering, but starting to lose the down. I do not have another light to use. I am using the only two lights I have on the ducklings and the chicks. Would they be ok in the house in a rubber bin, without heat for the night? It would be cooler.

Thanks, Kristin

 

[jaku]

How big is your brooder? Be sure they have enough room to escape the heat. The bulb you're using shouldn't be a problem, although I can't speak to the Florida weather. I use (2) 250watt bulbs in my 4x6 brooder, and it's barely enough this time of year. I wouldn't turn fans on.

 

[fours2many]

ok, I won't turn the fan on.

The brooder is 6x6 feet. It is very large. I found Dinner on the other side of the brooder, next to the water. It is about 80 degrees in the garage. Even the 4 day olds weren't directly under the light. Also, being in SW Florida...it is humid tonight. A storm is coming that will cool things off tomorrow in the am.

Do you think with his size, he and one of his siblings, should stay the night in the house? It is 75 degrees in here. i heard that cornish rocks have harder time with heat. Does this mean, they can handle the cooler temperatures? I would be willing (lol) to put my air around 78, just for their comfort. Would that be warm enough for them? I have a bin I could use for the night.

Thanks again, Kristin

Wanted to add, our outside air temp is 75 right now. Maybe the worst is over and it will cool off in the garage. It is supposed to get down to about 69 tonight for a low.

 

[jaku]

Quote:
Wow, you have 13 birds in a 6x6 brooder?! Haha, yeah, I'd say it's big enough. I don't think your temps are too hot at all. Even the Cornish X's do fine with mid-ninties until they're feathered out. Possibly your meatie is sick??

 

[fours2many]

Sorry, I meant to say;

10/ 2 week olds and 10/ 5 day olds

so 20 total

They have plenty of room. He does seem much better today. The temps cooled a lot today. When it gets to warm, I will just bring the big guys in the house.

Thanks for helping this panicked new Mom!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Those two week olds are ready to go outside with temps in the 70's! If it's 60 and sunny here in Ohio they are out of the brooder.... seems like yours are just fine. If they are panting like that during the day again just switch the bulb over to a 40 watt light bulb.