Weaning Heat Lamp-Spoiled Chicks...

[chfriedmam]

Hi, I'm wondering what to do. I have a brooder with 8 chicks 2.5 weeks old and 11 chicks 1.5 weeks old. The older chicks I started with a Brinsea heat plate, but they didn't do so great and I lost several (from McMurray, rough shipping experience, all one type, I DON'T think it had to do with heat). So, when I got the next batch I used a heat lamp and really kept them toasty.

For a week I kept the brooder partitioned with hardware cloth, but a. couple days a go I merged them. They are doing great, but the older birds have abandoned their heat plate and only want to be under the heat lamp. Also, the heat lamp is keeping the area directly under it at 90 degrees, and they all sleep right there, although they will go away to eat and drink-So I don't feel comfortable lifting the light higher yet.

I guess I'm just wondering if birds resist weaning of the light?? Like, if I just left it there would they be content to bask in 90 degree weather forever? I do live in Los Angeles and they are going to be in 90 degree temps for several months of each year, actually... Should I leave the light and trust the birds to move away as they get older, or raise it NEXT week so there is no area that hot in the brooder? TY, I know I'm wordy.

Pic for interest. PS the dark stuff isn't dirt, it's coffee grounds bedding. In the morning I give them their food in a box to eat a while, then I remove it and put in a second round feeder. They seem to like this.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I start turning the lamp off for an hour at a time when they are mostly feathered. They'll likely cry because the light is gone and the heat is gone and the first few times They'll likely huddle and look upset. Just keep an eye on them

 

[jher77]

I use a dimmer with the heat lamp and cut it back a little at a time.
I use the rotary type that you have to wire up but here is another type:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lutron-Credenza-Single-Pole-Black-Slide-Light-Dimmer/4462387

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are right. In a lot of places the temperatures get above 90 degrees and the chickens live in it, either young or as adults. Reading a lot of posts on this forum you get the impression that you have to lower the temperature so much as they grow or you are in trouble. That's not exactly correct. As they grow they "can" handle cooler temperatures but that doesn't mean they forget how to handle warmer temperatures. We often talk about how well a broody hen can raise chicks in pretty cool weather. Well, they can raise them really well in hot weather too.

My concept is to not try to keep the entire brooder one perfect temperature. What you need is to keep one spot in the brooder warm enough in the coolest temperatures and one spot cool enough in the warmest temperatures. If you are brooding in a climate controlled area where it's always the same temperature that's not too hard to accomplish but if you brood outside with some pretty wild temperature swings it can get more challenging. I think you are accomplishing that but I'm not sure how cool your coolest spot is. Room temperature would be good.

Who knows more about being a chicken, you or the chickens? Who knows better when they are comfortable, you or the chicks? They'll tell you if they are uncomfortable. If they are uncomfortably hot they will get as far from the heat as possible, probably panting as that is how they shed heat. If they are cold they will be as close to the heat as they can get, in a group and probably giving a plaintive peep that just sounds miserable. Yours aren't doing that, they are not under any heat or cold stress. If yours want to sleep in an area that is warmer than the absolute minimum they can survive in, let them.

As mentioned above the first time or two you turn the light off and they are in total dark they might get real upset. That's not because they are cold but because they are not used to the dark. Mine calm down and go to sleep in 10 to 15 minutes after the lights go out the first time. It doesn't hurt them.

I brood outside in temperatures probably a lot cooler than yours. During the day the chicks tend to wander all over the brooder, the cool spots too. At night they tend to sleep under the heat lamp even if it is warmer than it has to be. They sleep in a group, not because they are cold but because they like the company.

It won't hurt you to lower the temperature in there a little, just watch them and see how they react. Overall it sounds like you are doing great after the shipping problem.

 

[3KillerBs]

I used a combination of taking up the hanging chain and using lower-wattage bulbs to reduce the temperature 5 degrees per week until they were fully-feathered (4-6 weeks).

 

[chfriedmam]

I use a dimmer with the heat lamp and cut it back a little at a time.
I use the rotary type that you have to wire up but here is another type:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lutron-Credenza-Single-Pole-Black-Slide-Light-Dimmer/4462387

This is an idea, or going down on watts with reptile bulbs. Ty

 

[getaclue]

I put my lamp more towards one end of the brooder, so they can move to a cooler area if they choose, or to the warmer area as needed.

 

[chfriedmam]

You are right. In a lot of places the temperatures get above 90 degrees and the chickens live in it, either young or as adults. Reading a lot of posts on this forum you get the impression that you have to lower the temperature so much as they grow or you are in trouble. That's not exactly correct. As they grow they "can" handle cooler temperatures but that doesn't mean they forget how to handle warmer temperatures. We often talk about how well a broody hen can raise chicks in pretty cool weather. Well, they can raise them really well in hot weather too.

My concept is to not try to keep the entire brooder one perfect temperature. What you need is to keep one spot in the brooder warm enough in the coolest temperatures and one spot cool enough in the warmest temperatures. If you are brooding in a climate controlled area where it's always the same temperature that's not too hard to accomplish but if you brood outside with some pretty wild temperature swings it can get more challenging. I think you are accomplishing that but I'm not sure how cool your coolest spot is. Room temperature would be good.

Who knows more about being a chicken, you or the chickens? Who knows better when they are comfortable, you or the chicks? They'll tell you if they are uncomfortable. If they are uncomfortably hot they will get as far from the heat as possible, probably panting as that is how they shed heat. If they are cold they will be as close to the heat as they can get, in a group and probably giving a plaintive peep that just sounds miserable. Yours aren't doing that, they are not under any heat or cold stress. If yours want to sleep in an area that is warmer than the absolute minimum they can survive in, let them.

As mentioned above the first time or two you turn the light off and they are in total dark they might get real upset. That's not because they are cold but because they are not used to the dark. Mine calm down and go to sleep in 10 to 15 minutes after the lights go out the first time. It doesn't hurt them.

I brood outside in temperatures probably a lot cooler than yours. During the day the chicks tend to wander all over the brooder, the cool spots too. At night they tend to sleep under the heat lamp even if it is warmer than it has to be. They sleep in a group, not because they are cold but because they like the company.

It won't hurt you to lower the temperature in there a little, just watch them and see how they react. Overall it sounds like you are doing great after the shipping problem.

Yes, this makes good sense. They are in a garage, so temps do probably get cold on the far side at night. I might change to a lower wattage bulb in a week or so, but let them keep their light, they do love it so

 

[Silexian]

I still like to floor brood. Even though I have switched from propane heaters and heat lamps. To heat plates and Ohio brooders. There are some chicks that only venture out from under the heat source. Just long enough to eat and get a drink. Some almost from day one hang out at the edges and spend a lot of time away from the heat altogether. Exploring the coop and scratching around in the bedding. It just all depends on where they determine their comfort level to be.

 

[NatJ]

I guess I'm just wondering if birds resist weaning of the light?? Like, if I just left it there would they be content to bask in 90 degree weather forever? I do live in Los Angeles and they are going to be in 90 degree temps for several months of each year, actually... Should I leave the light and trust the birds to move away as they get older, or raise it NEXT week so there is no area that hot in the brooder?

In my experience, they eventually get bored under the light and spend more time moving around to do other things.

So I would just make sure the brooder is big enough, with plenty of cool space for when they do want to cool off, and interesting things (including the food and water) in the area away from the heat.

With a big enough brooder, there is no need to adjust the light at all: just leave it until the chicks no longer spend any time under it, and then take it out. (This only works if the brooder is so big that one end is not affected by the heat lamp. But if you have enough space, it is the easiest way to manage the temperature.)

I have a brooder with 8 chicks 2.5 weeks old and 11 chicks 1.5 weeks old.

I would recommend a bigger brooder than what you've got, especially as they get older.
(Unless you just move them outside, which can be done at young ages when the weather is warm enough.)

I've seen various guidelines for how much space per chick, but they usually go something like this:
1/2 square foot per chick from the first day
1 square foot per chick starting at 2-3 weeks
2 square feet per chick starting at 6-8 weeks
4 square feet per chick by 8-12 weeks, and as adults

So for 19 chicks, that would be 10 square feet from the beginning (2 feet by 5 feet is one way to make 10 square feet)
And they are already getting close to the age when they should have 20 square feet (4 feet by 5 feet makes 20 square feet)

The more space you give them, the more time they will spend away from the heat lamp, just because it's fun to run and play.

For a week I kept the brooder partitioned with hardware cloth, but a. couple days a go I merged them. They are doing great, but the older birds have abandoned their heat plate and only want to be under the heat lamp.

It looks like you took out the heat plate after you combined them-- good idea. One warm place is enough, and the chicks have clearly told you which one they like better.