Worried about new chicks.

[Chickie333]

We have twelve baby chicks that we just picked up today. They are in a kiddie pool w/ chicken wire around it and a heat lamp. My question is, is a heat lamp enough for them overnight? They are in my basement and it can get pretty chilly. Also, how far away from the heat lamp should they be?

 

[sillycmoy]

I'm brand new to chicks, but ours are in an x large dog ex pen, and we have their light about 5 feet from the bottom, but they are in a temp controlled room at 71. Brand new chicks from what I was told should be at 95 degrees, and each week you can put the lamp up higher. Sometimes I go over and they are all under the light, and then other times they are not under the light. If they are all huddled together under the light and being noisy, they are cold, and if they are all far away from the light panting like a dog, they are too hot. Hope that helps.

 

[Hillschicks]

95 degrees and going back 5 degrees a week is over kill... First off, stop worrying, they are much less fragile than you think.. We have never lost a chick to "too cold" and we are extreme with it.. At 2 weeks ours spend the days outside in their future coop.. Michigan days that have been lucky to be over 40 degrees on a good day.. If the nights are going to be above freezing they stay out.. The faster they are off the heat the faster they will feather out.. As i said, our way is a bit extreme, but we have also never lost a chick.. In fact other than a predator we have never lost a chicken period.. The point is, dont worry so much, they are going to be fine.. But no way i would have them under a heat lamp still after a month like some people.. Last night our 2 week old chicks came inside for the last time.. The weather is finally going to stay above freezing at night and they love it out there.. They arent huddled together anymore, they are scratchin and flyin around happily... They recommend the 5 degree drop every week, i am just sayin you gotta do whats best for you and your chicks.. They are durable, they made it many years before heat lamps.. In my oppinion, with michigan weather its not good to coddle them with heat too long.. They become dependant and its just not necessary.. Not to mention their feathers dont come in as fast.. We buy ours and hatch our own and have a 100% survival rate

 

[Hillschicks]

There they are.. Our 12 two week old chicks in there coop, current temperature 33.5 degrees at 9 in the morning.. They aremt huddled cold in a corner, they are flyin around and scratching

 

[Chickie333]

I like your style. Thanks.

 

[jboyfarms]

hey yall. I need a lil help. I didnt know where to post this, so i fig here would be a good start. I just had one of my silkie hens hatch two chicks in the last week or so. I went out this morning and found one "sleeping". This happened to me last year too, and ironically it was the spot on the floor of the hen house.