Unsure if Too Hot, or Too Cold

I'm a first time chick mom, and this is all very new to me. I've been anxiously hovering all day, raising and lowering my heat lamp due to high then low temps. I currently live in a house that does not have AC and ambient temp in the room with the 7 new chicks ranges from about 85 to 82 (currently in the 82 degree range). I have been reading up saying if the chicks are hot they move to the sides of the brooder area and avoid being under the heat lamp. If they are cold they huddle together. Most of my chicks are currently over towards the left side of the brood box (6 of them are together) avoiding the heat lamp but are in close proximity. One chick is off to the left side of the brooder by himself. My thermometer under the lamp is reading a temp of about 98 to 100 degrees. The sides are about 95 degrees. I'm curious if you all think they are too hot or too cold.
I'm super worried I'm going to roast them or chill them and am currently staying up all night to temp check them every hour.

You might want to get a bigger bin, and set the heat lamp on one end, they need a cooler side and a warmer side so they can move as they need.

The temp should be in the low 90Fs-high 80Fs. I'd move the heat lamp to one side of the brooder so they have a warm and a cool side. Move the food and water to the cooler side if you can.

I wasn't sure if I needed a bigger bin or that was alright. I got myself a 40 gallon container for them out of fear that a smaller one wouldn't work out. I think the only one I can get bigger is a 50 gallon. I'll look into seeing if I have one handy.

I moved the heat lamp over to the left side of the bin and that seems to be helping. They're now moving to the right side of the bin and still hanging out together over there.

Mercibelle said:

I wasn't sure if I needed a bigger bin or that was alright. I got myself a 40 gallon container for them out of fear that a smaller one wouldn't work out. I think the only one I can get bigger is a 50 gallon. I'll look into seeing if I have one handy.

I moved the heat lamp over to the left side of the bin and that seems to be helping. They're now moving to the right side of the bin and still hanging out together over there.

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They may be too warm. Try raising the lamp some to see and see if that makes a difference.

Mercibelle said:

I wasn't sure if I needed a bigger bin or that was alright. I got myself a 40 gallon container for them out of fear that a smaller one wouldn't work out. I think the only one I can get bigger is a 50 gallon. I'll look into seeing if I have one handy.

I moved the heat lamp over to the left side of the bin and that seems to be helping. They're now moving to the right side of the bin and still hanging out together over there.

Click to expand...

They'll out grow the bin within 10 days, I wouldn't worry too much.

SilverBirds said:

They may be too warm. Try raising the lamp some to see and see if that makes a difference.

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i agree

I think I might have found the right temperature because now they seem to be falling asleep all over the place in the brooder.

I would consider a heat plate if you're willing to shell out the extra money! I'm also a new chick caretaker and I started with a heat lamp for my first batch of chicks, but I transitioned to a heat plate for my other batches after some research. It's easily adjustable and you don't have to worry about your chicks being too hot/cold!

Some reasons I decided the switch was because of peace of mind that the heat lamp won't drop and cause a fire while I'm sleeping or away from the house. The main reason though was because I wanted my chicks to have a proper day/night sleep cycle. My first batch raised by a heat lamp were rambunctious at night and would sleep on and off during the daytime. My second batch who were raised by a heat plate slept throughout the night. I also noticed my chicks feathered faster under a heat plate than a heat lamp.

Nothing wrong with a heat lamp though! I still make use of mines occasionally.

You want the chicks to have a spot that is warm enough and an area that is significantly cooler so that they can choose their preferred temperature.