What temperature should my brooder be

[NatJ]

I just set up this great dog crate that I picked up at the Restore. The main space is at about 70F and the chicks are very happy hanging out in that space most of the time. They like to nap under the electric mama but more and more they’re comfortable just dropping where they are. Healthy and happy!

I'm glad the chicks are doing well!

I'm curious about a detail I see in your picture:
Do you have both a heat lamp and a heat plate?
Inside a house, the brooder plate should be enough, without any extra heat from a lamp.

Or is that big metal reflector just holding a bulb for light, that does not make enough heat to matter? If it is just for light, I would put it outside the crate, shining in through the top, so it is less likely to get knocked down.

 

[Greengirljmt]

I'm glad the chicks are doing well!

I'm curious about a detail I see in your picture:
Do you have both a heat lamp and a heat plate?
Inside a house, the brooder plate should be enough, without any extra heat from a lamp.

Or is that big metal reflector just holding a bulb for light, that does not make enough heat to matter? If it is just for light, I would put it outside the crate, shining in through the top, so it is less likely to get knocked down.

Thanks for your input. The bulb is a 125W. I could definitely put it on top but my house runs about 60-65F, so definitely on the cool side. Where I have it, the temp is around 70. What do you think?

 

[Greengirljmt]

Thanks for your input. The bulb is a 125W. I could definitely put it on top but my house runs about 60-65F, so definitely on the cool side. Where I have it, the temp is around 70. What do you think?

Also, it’s zip-tied to the top, so no chance of it moving.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks for your input. The bulb is a 125W. I could definitely put it on top but my house runs about 60-65F, so definitely on the cool side. Where I have it, the temp is around 70. What do you think?

Check the label for your heat plate, but most of them are expected to keep chicks warm in areas down to about 50 degrees. Your room temperature of 60+ degrees is definitely warmer than 50 degrees.

Even when chicks are very young, they can run out in cold places to eat and drink and play, then run back under the heat plate to warm up again. I think they probably do not need the extra heat from the bulb.

It is easy enough to test: turn the light off or unplug it, then watch how the chicks act. I would expect them to spend a little more time under the heat plate because the rest of their space will be a little cooler, but otherwise they should act about the same as before.

If you turn off the light, the chicks may peep and fuss for a few minutes because the change is scary. They should get over that in less than 15 minutes, and then you can get a more accurate sense of how comfortable they are without the extra heat.

 

[Greengirljmt]

Check the label for your heat plate, but most of them are expected to keep chicks warm in areas down to about 50 degrees. Your room temperature of 60+ degrees is definitely warmer than 50 degrees.

Even when chicks are very young, they can run out in cold places to eat and drink and play, then run back under the heat plate to warm up again. I think they probably do not need the extra heat from the bulb.

It is easy enough to test: turn the light off or unplug it, then watch how the chicks act. I would expect them to spend a little more time under the heat plate because the rest of their space will be a little cooler, but otherwise they should act about the same as before.

If you turn off the light, the chicks may peep and fuss for a few minutes because the change is scary. They should get over that in less than 15 minutes, and then you can get a more accurate sense of how comfortable they are without the extra heat.

The light is really more for light than heat. Move it on top of the crate. Thanks for the advice.

 

[NatJ]

The light is really more for light than heat. Move it on top of the crate. Thanks for the advice.

Sounds good!

At this stage, it's not a big deal either way, as long as the chicks are comfortable (which they are, judging by your description of their behavior.)

Most people are impatient to move chicks outside as soon as possible, and keeping most of the brooder as cool as possible will help them adapt a bit faster to cool outdoor conditions. That will be more important as they get closer to move-out age, but is less important while they're still downy fluffballs.