No Heat lamp at week 2?

Mercibelle said:

My chicks are bouncing between heat lamp and no heat lamp currently. Its about 82 to 83 degrees ambient in their room. They are generally quiet, but when the temp drops, I turn on the heat lamp. I can only leave it on for a total of about 10 mins and about 3 of my chicks start panting.

Click to expand...

Mercibelle said:

I'm super worried I'm doing something all wrong.
My chicks are bouncing between heat lamp and no heat lamp currently. Its about 82 to 83 degrees ambient in their room. They are generally quiet, but when the temp drops, I turn on the heat lamp. I can only leave it on for a total of about 10 mins and about 3 of my chicks start panting. They have room to move away from the lamp, but seemingly don't and huddle with the other chicks that are fine with the lamp.

All are eating and drinking normally. But the panting guys really worry me because I know that means they are really really hot. I'm afraid to leave the lamp off due to the other 5 chicks as I don't want them to get chilled, but I am also worried about my 3 that are obviously hot. Should I move the three to a different box and leave the 5 under the lamp?

I know I'm probably waaay overthinking this an worrying/panicking for no reason at all. But I really don't want to hurt them or lose any of them due to a stupid mistake. They're all so healthy currently and minus this issue seem to be doing great.

Click to expand...

Mercibelle said:

the chicks were huddled together but quiet. No loud peeping or chirping.

Click to expand...

Ridgerunner said:

Broody hens don't read that rule book and they do pretty well raising chicks. The chicks behaviors will tell you how they are doing much better than any thermometer. Your chicks are telling you that they are too hot. That message couldn't be much clearer.

I understand somebody new needs some guidelines as to what to do until they get some experience. And they are really worried about hurting their chicks. They think there are rigid rules that have to be followed. That is seldom the case, there is usually a range that works. And you can get all kinds of different guidelines on this forum. I've seen people say you should start a brooder off at 100 F then drop it by 5 degrees F each week. Others say start at 95 and drop it 5. Others may say start at 90 F and drop by 5 each week. I don't say any of those. I like a brooder that has one spot that is warm enough in the coldest temperatures and also a spot (probably a different spot) that is cool enough in the warmest conditions. Then let the chicks decide where they want to be.

So what is warm enough? To me anything 90 F or above works either straight out of the incubator or if they are much older as long as they can get to a cool spot. How cool is cool enough. That's hard to answer. You can't get below ambient. But let if get as cool as you can. In winter mine may be below freezing in the far end but the warm area stays toasty.


At those highs you don't need any supplement heat. How low will your temps drop in that building at night? That will determine whether you need supplemental heat or not. I'm fully in favor of turning the heat off during the day and monitoring as it cools down.

Click to expand...

Hip Hillbilly Farm said:

This thread is SO helpful to me as a new chick mamma (like less than 3 hours). I purchased the dang heat plate (ughhh). Thinking I should probably turn it off tomorrow during day, watch them and see what they want.


Thanks op and @Ridgerunner

Click to expand...