What percentage of chicks normally make it?

[lomine]

Okay, sounds like you have the food under control. If you are offering them grit small enough for them to eat, the mealworms shouldn't be the problem.

I ask about the heat source because some bulbs have a teflon coating. The fumes given off when the bulb warms up is toxic to birds. If you using the red bulbs sold specifically for chicks that is safe. If not, you'll want to check the packaging to make sure the bulb isn't coated.

I think it would be a good idea to measure the temperature of your brooder; just to make sure they aren't getting too hot. At 2.5 weeks old it should be around 85 degrees. I used a cheap outdoor thermometer from Walmart when I first started and it worked okay.

 

[brewer12345]

The bulb was sold specifically for brooders, so no worries there.

I will measure the temp this evening. Time to clean the brooder out anyway.

 

[OKVet]

Yes, coturnix quail chicks. I started feeding 18% protein chick starter because I could not find game bird starter. Then I found a 22% protein meat bird feed and switched to that. I just found out that a local store carries a 24% game bird starter, so I will get some of that and switch to it. Knowing that I have been under the recommended protein level I have been supplementing with dried mealworms all along.

I am using a 250 watt bulb for a heat source with a red bulb. Don't know the brooder temp, but have kept the lamp low enough that they are not huddling up from the cold or complaining.

Not knowing the temp in the brooder is not good. You should never guess, just like you don't guess when they are in the incubator. I would get a thermometer in the brooder to make sure.

 

[brewer12345]

OK, I just checked the brooder and it is 90F. I raised the lamp a bit and will check again soon to see if it is at 85. How do I figure out what temp the brooder should be by chick age? These guys are ultimately ending up in an outdoor coop and I will need to make sure they are acclimated.

 

[lomine]

Is there plenty of room in the brooder for them to get away from the heat? Unless it is a very small brooder, and they had no way to cool off a little, the temperature should have been okay. Though since you haven't been measuring it there is no way to tell if at some point it got too hot and they overheated. I'm starting to think you may not be able to pinpoint the reason. It could have been a combination of little things that didn't work in your favor or it was a poor batch of chicks.

Normally you start at 95 and drop 5 degrees each week. I try to keep mine between 90 and 95 for the first week and gradually raise the heat lamp each week. You'll want to make sure that the temperature in the brooder is pretty close to your outside temp before you move them outdoors. Even if they are fully feathered you don't want to move them when there is an extreme difference in temperatures. I have put my heat lamp in the outside coop by running an extension cord in the past. They were about 3.5 weeks and I couldn't stand the mess from the dust anymore. This worked well for me and they only needed the lamp for about a week and a half before the outside temps had risen enough. Plus they were much happier.

 

[brewer12345]

The brooder is big enough that they could get away if they want. It is in my basement which has very stable temps and the lamp pretty much did not move when I was losing chicks.

I will start acclimating them now, then. My outdoor temp is 35F now, but within a week we will see daytime highs around 60 and lows around 30. Which one do I try to get them used to? I also could temporarily house them in the garage, which is unheated but warmer than outside.

 

[lomine]

Once they are fuller feathered you can start dropping the brooder temp faster, like every three days instead of every week. If the garage temp is closer to the outside temp that would be a good way to go. At week 5 or 6 they will be fine outside as long as they are given a chance to acclimate. I don't think you will be able to get your inside temps as low as the nighttime temps but they'll still be fine. They can also cuddle in a group to help keep warm. Also, make sure they have a place out of the wind. Even if they are used to colder temps they won't be able to stay warm if they can't get out of the wind.

 

[brewer12345]

Once they are fuller feathered you can start dropping the brooder temp faster, like every three days instead of every week. If the garage temp is closer to the outside temp that would be a good way to go. At week 5 or 6 they will be fine outside as long as they are given a chance to acclimate. I don't think you will be able to get your inside temps as low as the nighttime temps but they'll still be fine. They can also cuddle in a group to help keep warm. Also, make sure they have a place out of the wind. Even if they are used to colder temps they won't be able to stay warm if they can't get out of the wind.

Thanks. I built the outdoor coop with a section that is fully enclosed except for the floor and a door to access the rest of the coop. For colder temps I will put a section of cardboard on the floor and give them straw.

 

[Q QUAIL S]

Yes, coturnix quail chicks. I started feeding 18% protein chick starter because I could not find game bird starter. Then I found a 22% protein meat bird feed and switched to that. I just found out that a local store carries a 24% game bird starter, so I will get some of that and switch to it. Knowing that I have been under the recommended protein level I have been supplementing with dried mealworms all along.

I am using a 250 watt bulb for a heat source with a red bulb. Don't know the brooder temp, but have kept the lamp low enough that they are not huddling up from the cold or complaining.

I watered my birds previously in dog bowls. I didn't have a heat lamp in with my adult birds and one got their legs wet and I think froze, it was also in the 20's. I learned that when your birds are young you give them higher protein and then you give them around 22% protein feed if the protein is to low they won't lay as much.