Transitioning 2.5 week old chicks from heat lamp to heat plate

[sophiehatter1057]

In order to give the chicks dark at night, I thought to transition them from the heat lamp we were using right from the start, to a heat plate. I swapped them out an hour ago and none of them will try it yet. Will they eventually figure out? There's lots of peeping and standing around with puffed feathers. I tried leading one over but it didn't take. Just give it time or could they actually get too cold this way? (They're in my house which is at 70 degrees).

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't use a heat plate but if they are standing around peeping and puffed I'd physically move them to the heat plate. Them, not just one. They probably need to be taught to use it.

Will 70 degrees kill 2-1/2 week old chicks? I don't know. But if they are standing around puffed and peeping I'd do something about it.

 

[C Siena]

It took our chicks, almost 2 wks, a couple of hours to check it out, they did get under it for a couple of nights, then half of them, 7 were sleeping on top and a few next to it. Maybe if then don't begin to investigate it, and find it is warm, throw a little food under it by the edge.
Our brooder is in the bathroom and as there is an incubator going, it is keeping the temp about 75 (home about 67ish). They are 3 wks today and I flattened the MHP as they were only sleeping on top. I think they will investigate it.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

So 7 of them are sleeping under it, and 5 are sleeping together away from it. Nobody is peeping. Is that a good sign, or might the 5 just be too cold to peep?

 

[C Siena]

So 7 of them are sleeping under it, and 5 are sleeping together away from it. Nobody is peeping. Is that a good sign, or might the 5 just be too cold to peep?

Great! The other 5 may join, give them a little more time. I'm no expert but I think they would be peeping. Are the 5 huddled or just close to each other?
Also, I'm curious, did they go under it on their own? without food or you putting them there? Other's experiences help me to learn. Good job.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Great! The other 5 may join, give them a little more time. I'm no expert but I think they would be peeping. Are the 5 huddled or just close to each other?
Also, I'm curious, did they go under it on their own? without food or you putting them there? Other's experiences help me to learn. Good job.

The other five are snuggled close to each other. After I funneled them there and they freaked out, I sprinkled food. Nobody ate it haha. But my two curious ones checked it out soon after that, and 5 others followed

 

[C Siena]

The other five are snuggled close to each other. After I funneled them there and they freaked out, I sprinkled food. Nobody ate it haha. But my two curious ones checked it out soon after that, and 5 others followed

Good job. Ours are not afraid of my hands anymore. I feed them (most of the 15) with some food in my hands...believe me it is awkward for me, but I want them to associate my hands with good stuff. They do! I fill their food container but when I have food in my hands, oh do they fly to my hands. Literally, they fly onto each other, it's like a mosh pit and hilarious. Now, I can clean the brooder without freaking them out as they want to be by my hands. Now this does make the changing of paper and shavings a little more time consuming but fun for all.
You are doing well, enjoy and learn, as I am still and always will be.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Good job. Ours are not afraid of my hands anymore. I feed them (most of the 15) with some food in my hands...believe me it is awkward for me, but I want them to associate my hands with good stuff. They do! I fill their food container but when I have food in my hands, oh do they fly to my hands. Literally, they fly onto each other, it's like a mosh pit and hilarious. Now, I can clean the brooder without freaking them out as they want to be by my hands. Now this does make the changing of paper and shavings a little more time consuming but fun for all.
You are doing well, enjoy and learn, as I am still and always will be.

I love that image so much! We have a couple that fly to our laps when we open the brooder, and everyone else sort of follows their lead. I didn't expect to love them all this much