Turning brooder light off?

[below_gravity]

I will not be able to raise my brooder light up till I get home and my question is...is it ok to turn the brooder light off if its 85 outside? When I got home yesterday it was ~120 under the light and ~85 on the "cool side" of the brooder. This seems oftly hot! I have to get dbf help me raise it so I wasnt able to do it last night. I was hopeing to get a 100watt light bulb in there but we didn't have any. So, I was going to have dbf's mother (who is visiting for the summer) turn off the brooder light once it gets up to 85 outside (probably around 12:30 or 1) and I will be home ~4:30 to check on them. Is this a bad idea? Is it better for them to be able to get warm if they need to (that what dbf thinks, he says dont turn off the light. I said I dont want roasted chicks) I feel really bad about having them so hot!

 

[Opa]

You didn't say how old the chicks are. If they have feathered out I wouldn't worry about them. Turn the light off during the day.

 

[below_gravity]

3 days old

 

[Opa]

Since your chicks are only 3 days old you will need to find some way to stabilize your temperatures. I would get them at 90 degrees and then lower by 5 degrees each week.
However, to answer your original question, if you have someone who can check on them and the temperature in the brood is over 95 and the outside temp is in the eighties, I would have them turn the light off.

 

[below_gravity]

Quote:
I know.

If they can just make it till 4:30 I will be home and figure out how to raise the light and/or do whatever it takes to correct the problem!

I guess I wasn't prepared to deal with highs of 85 when i was highs of 60 last week. Im failing here

 

[below_gravity]

If I can get the bf to do it, how much should I ask him to raise the light you think? 6-8 inches for now?

 

[Rolsjo]

The best thing would be to raise the lamp a few inches and wait 20-30 minutes while the temp adjusts to see how they do. I just had to adjust our lamp again this morning because now 90 is too hot for them. They seem much more comfortable at 85.

Do you have time to wait for the temp to adjust?

 

[below_gravity]

Quote:
Im at work (not anywhere close to home) and dbf cant wait. I asked him to raise it 6-8inches. I will ask his mother to check it around 12 (once it gets hot out) and if its over 80 in the "cool area" I will have her turn it off. Once I get home I have tonight and tomorrow to play with raising it and lowering it.

Side note, this am my thermometer read ~105 directly under the lamp and the chicks were close by so I guess its not too uncomfortable for them (although I dont want to hurt them and not sure 110 is a good temp to be exposed to).

 

[Opa]

Just relax, you are going to do fine and your chicks are lucky to have someone who cares so much.

 

[below_gravity]

Quote:
Thank you. I will

for now

Edit: update: dbf had a little extra time

and was able to wait to see what the temps were looking like after he raised the light and it was about 86 near the light! YAY! Im sure they will be a bit warmer but the time it hits 85 outside, but

no fried chicks!

Thanks for your support guys!