When to raise the heat plate?

[WendyTestaburger]

They look happy!

That was much easier than I expected to raise up this is the next highest setting, does it look too high? That's my tallest chick all the way to the left

 

[casportpony]

That looks great!

 

[WendyTestaburger]

That looks great!

Whew okay thank you for your help!!!

 

[casportpony]

You're welcome!

 

[WendyTestaburger]

Just went in to check on them and they were huddled in the corner of the box away from the heat plate does that mean it's too high? They weren't chirping or acting strange just huddled together, I've not seen them do that before

 

[casportpony]

Maybe put it back and see what they do.

 

[TsBurks]

I have 1 week old chicks that seem to be doing well. They spend a lot of time out from under the brooder, going in to heat up. As they're getting bigger I know I need to raise the heat plate up a knotch but when will I know they're ready? I've noticed only one sleeps fully under the brooder now (the smallest one) and the rest sleep half in half out, except the biggest one who sleeps completely out. Also, if I raise it up, what signs should I look for that they aren't getting warm enough? Huddling together? Spending a lot of time under the brooder? I'll attach a picture to show how they're sleeping.

If you hear their distress calls, they are probably not getting warm enough! Or the one sleeping by itself could be distressed bc it doesn’t want to sleep by itself…
If you have enough heat source & they are barely touching the plate, it’s probably ok… However, as they grow, you’ll need to adjust for the larger one, too — not so high the smaller ones get cold, tho… It’s a hard dance but it can be done… They WILL let you know if there’s a problem... They can get very loud when unhappy…
Good Luck with your babies!