We have babies!!! Brooder temp question.

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

We brought home our babies today - we have some fun mixes. I'll share pictures once my camera is done charging. They are all roughly a week old. What I'm wondering is we have them in a big 45 gal plastic tub for now, with a 125 watt bulb. The thermometer that I have has stayed steady at 80 degree's and the chicks are all active, eating, drinking, playing - everything I've read says the first week the temp should be around 95 deg, then dropping 5 deg each week after that until they have their feathers.

Even though their acting fine, should I go get a 250 watt bulb & heat things up a bit?

 

[kemclaughlin]

I tried having the brooder at 95 and the chicks were huddled as far from the light as they could get. I think it was below 90 before they wanted anything to do with it. I finally just decided if they seemed fine then I would let them decide and I put the thermometer away.

 

[Emmalion]

Go with how they act. If they are all over the place they are happy. Huddled up under the light they are cold.

Sounds like you have happy chicks

 

[snowflake]

can you put a blanket of cover over part of the brooder? If you are at 80 250 might get to hot

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

That's kind of what I was guessing - they all act very happy & comfortable, so I've just been watching them all day to see if that changed at all & it hasn't.

I appreciate the replies! We are all so in love already, even my husband has his own chick - it's so cute to see him all soft & sweet with her

 

[GiddyMoon]

I am seriously wondering about this too. I have seen so many people suggest a 60 watt to 100 watt bulb then read an article that said don't listen to those people..well gee, I am in Tucson, my house is 80 degrees right now..you know what a 250 watt bulb would do to these chicks? What, am I supposed to hang it 10 feet in the air and just waste all that energy? Then I heard the white light can make them peck..so use an amber light..UG! What did chickens do before us humans got so involved?!?!