new chicks

hardsy1 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:48 pm

well, i have finally got my new chicks yesterday. we are having a bit of trouble with heating. i was using just normal lamps, and the chicks didnt seem to be all that happy, they were all clumped together, but we survived the first night, so today i got an infa red heat lamp and reflector etc, the chicks are much happier, but my concern is that it is too hot for them, they are not running to the other side if the box or anything, and they are forming around the light to an extent. is it normal that they lay down and look almost life less, but are fine when touched. i am just worried that they are doing it because it is too hot.

just a question about ducklings as well. i have 6 and they are only babys aswell, they are in a seperate box, and they have only got one lamp in with them, it is a 60w globe, they seem to be fine , but are they meant to huddle up or are they like chicks and meant to be around the heat?

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Hardsy1, As long as the chicks have room to get away from the heat they will be fine and yes some chick can lay under or near the heat and look died but they are fine.

Good Luck with the chicks and Congratulations.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

hardsy1 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:37 pm

thanks, i thought they would be fine, but i just thought i better check.
thanks

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Yes better to be safe than sorry, if you need any more help please just ask :-D

Thanks
P.A :lol:

greenaus · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:37 pm

Another experience to add to the greenaus list.

My two chicks which hatched on Sunday spent last night out of the brooder in a kids toybox where they'd been put by Little Miss 5.

My brooder box is perhaps 50cm * 50cm and 35cm deep. It has a 75w globe on one side. I have the lid a little open on the side away from the light for ventilation.

This was the same set-up I had for the original chicks (except now with newspaper instead of wood shavings).

The chicks dig it.

When I set it back up the other night, I tried 25w, then 60w, then went back to 75w before I was satisfied that it was getting warm enough to put the chicks in.

Mine seem to hang around wherever they want, sometimes mid-way, sometimes near the walls, sometimes below the gap in the lid, but rarely right under the light. It always feel comfy when you put your hand in.

hardsy1 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:50 am

thanks, last night was much better than the one before, i now have the infared lamp in there and they are all lined around it like the pics tell you they should be. i have a big box, so that is why i think the norm globes wouldnt work. it is 1m*1m by 50cm. and i have wood shavings in there. it all works good now and they seem to be happy.

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