What Temp Is Too Cold To Brood In?

[AlexandraF]

I currently have 11 chicks inside the house. They are 4 1/2 weeks old. Inside is about 70 degrees. I want to move them into the garage because the dust is out of control. The garage is not heated or insulated. I live in NY and the temp for this following week ranges from 23 degrees some coming nights to 40-55 degrees during the day. I have a brooder with 4 solid walls, heat lamps and brinsea ecoglow. Will they be ok moving them into the garage with this cold of temps?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Do you have a brooder light?

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Do you have a brooder light?

Just saw you do, I’m sure it will be fine if your using the light

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi. They certainly won't need heat during the day, 50 degrees is plenty warm since they are feathered and can huddle together for warmth. Not sure about night time temps., but I suspect they will probably be okay without additional heat then as well for the same reasons. You, however, will probably feel better if you provide them with some warmth at night. Remember, they are wearing little down jackets, and just think about all the birds in the wild that do just fine without our assistance in much colder temps.

 

[AlexandraF]

Hi. They certainly won't need heat during the day, 50 degrees is plenty warm since they are feathered and can huddle together for warmth. Not sure about night time temps., but I suspect they will probably be okay without additional heat then as well for the same reasons. You, however, will probably feel better if you provide them with some warmth at night. Remember, they are wearing little down jackets, and just think about all the birds in the wild that do just fine without our assistance in much colder temps.

Awesome thank you. I guess I’m most concerned about the sudden drop without them acclimating by moving them

 

[AlexandraF]

Just saw you do, I’m sure it will be fine if your using the light

Ok thanks. We have two lamps both with 100watt bulbs

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ok thanks. We have two lamps both with 100watt bulbs

That is way too much heat, and a fire hazard. Really, a 75 watt bulb would be plenty. Do you have a thermometer? Temp at the surface for day-olds should be about 90F. You drop it by 5F a week until it is at room temp. At 4-5 weeks your birds only need it to be 70F on the floor of their brooder. Get a thermometer and see how hot the brooder actually is. They are too young to cook!

Falling ssleep. Night!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I currently have 11 chicks inside the house. They are 4 1/2 weeks old. Inside is about 70 degrees. I want to move them into the garage because the dust is out of control. The garage is not heated or insulated. I live in NY and the temp for this following week ranges from 23 degrees some coming nights to 40-55 degrees during the day. I have a brooder with 4 solid walls, heat lamps and brinsea ecoglow. Will they be ok moving them into the garage with this cold of temps?

You do not need a heat plate and heat lamps - just the plate should do fine.

I'd go ahead and move them, along with their heat plate, so they can warm up or cool down as they wish.

 

[BrinseaUS]

We don't recommend that the Ecoglows be used in temps lower than 50 degrees, so if you're anticipating the temps dropping below that I would say go with the heat lamp or move the chicks indoors.

Edit: I just noticed the photos you attached Your chicks look old enough to be able to handle lower temps with the heat plate just fine.

 

[AlexandraF]

We don't recommend that the Ecoglows be used in temps lower than 50 degrees, so if you're anticipating the temps dropping below that I would say go with the heat lamp or move the chicks indoors.

Edit: I just noticed the photos you attached Your chicks look old enough to be able to handle lower temps with the heat plate just fine.