Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[judge]

After hatch, you start them out at 95* and lower the temp by 5* every week: 90* at 1 week, 85* at 2 weeks, 80* at 3 weeks, etc.

I assume they are having distressed peeping fits because they are cold.

Observing their behavior and listening to them is the key to figuring out if they are comfortable or not. If the smell and the dust are too much for you, then prepare a proper brooder in your garage/porch with an adequate temperature for them to be comfortable and survive in, or don't hatch out helpless chicks in these kind of brutal temperatures. Sorry if I sound harsh, but too many people seem to act before thinking, with the animals left to suffer the consequences. They are crying for a reason.

Oh there is no need to worry CC. I have spent the money and time required to take care of any of the animals I choose to keep. Since they are feathering out already I thought 70 would be fine. Actually they have been at this temp for 24hrs with no problem, so I didn't think that the temp was the issue. OF COURSE I would not put them out in the cold without any heat. I have had a very nice brooder built for me all set for them to move into when the time is right. Being as we get such low temps, my idea was to let them get used to the house temp, which is around 70-72 degrees before I put them in the brooder. Thanks though!

 

[JustJohn]

Ok guys- I love these chicks, but can someone tell me how to get them to SHUT the H*** UP?!?! They are so loud! And I mean- I can hear them upstairs?! They are pecking at the side of the tub, and making all sorts of peeps, sounds I have not heard them make before. They have never done this before. I put a sheet over the top thinking that would work which it did, but only for like 10sec. It's driving me crazy!!

From what I have experienced here in my house. The sheet is a good idea it quiets them down. Darkness will also help calm them we brood in our dining room too and they too have griped about the surroundings until I cover them up and turn out the light.

 

[cuties]

Chicks do not need to be kept VERY warm all the time. In nature, they go under the hen to warm up and than they leave the warmth to eat and drink and play. Chicks raised with hens are vital, active, and strong. A little cold does them no harm. The first week they spend most of the time under mom and as the weeks progress it is less and less. This was taken yesterday ..she took them to the only beam of sun light peeking threw the window. They are cold, but they are playing and even jumping on top of her. It is not a very good picture but if I entered that room I would have disturbed the play time. It was pretty cold yesterday.

Aaaaaww! We haven't let any of our eggs hatch, we just eat em lol. But if we ever did, I think we'd just let the girls do their thing. We let them out all day, so I think we would have to wIt till it was warmer out. We only have a mutt roo right now. For sure we'll wait til we have a breed we loved! Thanks for the advice tho. We do want to get a few more girls though. I love blue laced wyandotte, and silver laced. Do you know anywhere? I'm not sure about ordering from hatcherys. Seems like there's not too many good things said about them so far... and 15 would be to many for us... I would like the kiddos to do 4h...

 

[Celtic Chick]

I agree completely Delisha, that chicks do not need heat constantly, but they do need heat, as do most creatures, ourselves included. Who enjoys being cold?
All I meant is that chicks require a certain temp. to thrive at certain times in their development. A constant temperature should be maintained in one area of a brooder so that the chicks have the option to go there to warm up, the same as they would duck under their mom. The heat should be offset in the brooder to supply a "warm" area and a "ccol" area for them to be able to choose from. Watching their behavior and listening to them are a key to figuring out if the temperature is adequate or not. If they are all huddled together under the heat and peeping loudly, they are cold. If they are all spead out around the edges of the light, then they are too warm. In any case, if they are peeping loudly, they are in some sort of distress.

 

[cuties]

I agree completely Delisha, that chicks do not need heat constantly, but they do need heat, as do most creatures, ourselves included. Who enjoys being cold?
All I meant is that chicks require a certain temp. to thrive at certain times in their development. A constant temperature should be maintained in one area of a brooder so that the chicks have the option to go there to warm up, the same as they would duck under their mom. The heat should be offset in the brooder to supply a "warm" area and a "ccol" area for them to be able to choose from. Watching their behavior and listening to them are a key to figuring out if the temperature is adequate or not. If they are all huddled together under the heat and peeping loudly, they are cold. If they are all spead out around the edges of the light, then they are too warm. In any case, if they are peeping loudly, they are in some sort of distress.

Wheeew, that's how ours is set. I'd send a pic if I could figure it out! Lol

 

[Celtic Chick]

Wheeew, that's how ours is set. I'd send a pic if I could figure it out! Lol

Do you know how to insert a smiley? In the "reply" box where you type, at the top are small icons. 5 icons to the left of the smiley is a box. If you hover your mouse above it, it should say "insert image".
Click on it. It should open up a window. At the top, it should have a button that says "browse". Click on that, then follow the links to your pictures folder ("my computer", then "my pictures") then select whatever folder your pictures are in, then select the desired pics. Once you pick your pic, hit "submit" in the bottom right hand corner of the box. After a few moments, your picture should appear. HTH

 

[delisha]

Quote: CC..my chicks scream for me... they skipped loud peeping a long time ago. The lil buggers. They are not in distress..just demanding. They have the Brinsea..that is about 80 and they have to touch it to get the 80..They spend most of the day out of it now. When they feather out..I will pull the Brinsea..They will have house heat. 65 degrees and warmer than some of the chicks get. and much colder than Judges chicks.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I stand corrected.

They are screaming for something though, are they not? They have a reason? Just sayin, that's all.

Not all chicks are the same, and not all adjust to their changing surroundings the same either.
It is one thing to be excited to see their surrogate mom, but if they are making a constant distressed peeping, then I personally would be concerned, not annoyed. I know my broody-raised chicks are way more hardy than my bator & brooder ones, so I tend to be much more protective of them, but that is just me. I apologize for my over reaction. I am just too sensitive toward other creatures, I guess.

 

[delisha]

I stand corrected.

They are screaming for something though, are they not? They have a reason? Just sayin, that's all.

Not all chicks are the same, and not all adjust to their changing surroundings the same either.
It is one thing to be excited to see their surrogate mom, but if they are making a constant distressed peeping, then I personally would be concerned, not annoyed. I know my broody-raised chicks are way more hardy than my bator & brooder ones, so I tend to be much more protective of them, but that is just me. I apologize for my over reaction. I am just too sensitive toward other creatures, I guess.

Yes..they have a reason..they are spoiled rotten and want to see me. And that is OK.

 

[jvls1942]

chicks are about one ounce.. no body mass to keep them warm,, I do not pay much heed to the temperature.. I have heat at one end of the brooder and the chicks can pick out where in the brooder they are most comfortable.. if the chicks are making that shrill peeping sound, they are most likely too cold.. or,, they miss the light they had.. 70 is most definately too cold for chicks.. I do not lower my heat as they get bigger.. they will just move away from the hottest spot until they are comfortable..

I think my brooder is about 80F..

you cannot just acclimate a chick to conform to a temperature..

brooder-ing , as in incubating, DO NOT TRY TO MIMIC WHAT A HEN DOES.. just follow the proper procedure for the brooder box or the incubator ..

as much as I hate to admit it,, I have to agree with CC,,,,again,,,,this is getting to be a habit lately.

I missed the pictures of the table,, Kim,,, I went back a few pages and didn't find them.. WTH ?
or did you PM them to Mel ?

looking forward to plowing snow with Ollie..

......jimjustgettingintotheswingofwinter..........