Claire Thompson
Newly hatched chicks are unable to regulate their body temperature and are susceptible to hypothermia, so it is essential that they are kept warm. The ideal temperature for chicks during their first week of life is between 90°F and 95°F, which can be maintained using a brooder or a heat lamp. After the first week, the temperature can be decreased by 5°F each week until the chicks are four weeks old. Chicks should be monitored to ensure they are not too hot or cold, and their environment should be clean, well-ventilated, and protected from drafts.
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What You'll Learn
Brooder setup
Location and Environment
Choose a safe location away from drafts and potential predators. The brooder area should be clean, well-ventilated, and dry to prevent hypothermia and other health issues. It is recommended to have bedding or litter on the floor to absorb moisture. Wood shavings are the most common and effective option, but other materials such as ground corn cobs, peanut hulls, and rice hulls can also be used. Avoid using slippery materials like shiny, printed newspaper, cardboard, or plastic, as these can cause leg damage.
Temperature and Heat Sources
Maintain a temperature of 95°F for the first week of the chicks' lives. A simple and cost-effective way to achieve this is by using a heat lamp with a red bulb. The red bulb provides a more natural day/night cycle and discourages chicks from picking at each other. Alternatively, radiant warming units like the Brinsea EcoGlow brooder provide warmth without heating the air in the brooder. The temperature should be decreased by 5°F each week until the chicks are four weeks old. Observe chick behaviour to adjust the temperature accordingly—if they huddle together, they are cold, and if they move to the edges, they are too warm.
Food and Water
Provide constant access to clean food and water. Use shallow dishes or egg cartons for feeding, and ensure that the water source is easily accessible by dipping the chicks' beaks into it. As the chicks grow, provide larger feeders and consider purchasing commercial chick waterers.
Space and Ventilation
Ensure proper ventilation during the brooding period. The brooder should have enough space for the chicks to move in and out of the heat source to regulate their body temperatures. The more chicks you have, the larger the brooder should be to prevent overcrowding.
Brooder Guard
Use a brooder guard, such as a cardboard or wire mesh ring, to keep the chicks confined to an area near the heat source. This helps prevent them from wandering too far and provides a sense of security. The brooder guard can be removed after the first week when the chicks are more accustomed to their surroundings.
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Heat lamps
The ideal temperature for chicks, seven days old or younger, is 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In the second week, it drops to 90 degrees, and in the third week, it is 85 degrees. Each subsequent week, the temperature can be reduced by 5 degrees until the chicks are ready to live outside. Brooders should keep chicks at the proper temperature. A simple brooder consists of an infrared heat lamp with a hood to direct heat toward the floor, and a brooder guard to keep the chicks confined to an area near the heat source.
It is important to monitor the temperature of the brooder with a thermometer. In the absence of a thermometer, one can observe the chicks' behaviour to gauge whether the temperature is suitable. If the chicks are cold, they will huddle together under the heat lamp. If they are too warm, they will move as far from the lamp as the brooder ring allows. If the brooder is drafty, the chicks will move to one side to escape the draft. When the temperature is just right, the chicks will be evenly distributed within the brooder area, softly chirping and pecking around.
There are alternatives to heat lamps, such as heating plates and pads, which can be safer as they pose less of a fire hazard. However, heat lamps are inexpensive and easy to install, and they can be purchased from feed or pet stores. Most experts recommend red bulbs as they are not as bright as clear ones, allowing chicks to have a natural day/night cycle.
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Ideal temperature range
Newly hatched chicks are unable to regulate their body temperature during the first few weeks of their life. Therefore, it is essential that they have a source of heat. The ideal temperature range for chicks that are seven days old or younger is 90–95 °F. After the first week, chicks can tolerate temperatures 5 °F cooler for each week until they are four weeks old. So, one-week-old chicks can tolerate 90 °F, and two-week-old chicks can tolerate 85 °F. The temperature should be measured 2.5 inches from the top of the litter directly below the hood.
Brooders should be used to keep chicks warm during this crucial time. A simple brooder consists of an infrared heat lamp with a hood over it to direct heat toward the floor, and a brooder guard. A brooder guard is a cardboard or wire mesh ring to keep the chicks confined to an area near the heat source. The brooder guard can be removed after one week and the brooder can be removed after the temperature under the brooder is in the 65–70 °F range, or when the brooder and outside temperature match. Brooder chicks must have chicken heating lamps or other appropriate heat sources, and humans must closely monitor them.
If the brooder area is drafty, the chicks will move to one side of the brooder to escape the draft and keep warm. If the temperature is just right, the chicks will be evenly distributed within the brooder area, softly chirping and pecking around. If the chicks are huddled together under the heat lamp, they are cold. If they are around the edges of the brooding area, they are too warm. Adjust the height of the lamp accordingly and give them enough room to move in and out of the light to regulate their body temperatures.
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Adjusting temperature
Newly hatched chicks are unable to regulate their body temperatures and are susceptible to hypothermia, so it is essential that they have a source of heat. Brooders should be used to keep the chicks warm during this time. A simple brooder consists of an infrared heat lamp with a hood over it to direct heat toward the floor, and a brooder guard. The brooder guard is a cardboard or wire mesh ring that keeps the chicks confined to an area near the heat source.
The ideal temperature for chicks that are seven days old or younger is around 90 to 95 °F. In the second week of life, the ideal temperature drops to 90 °F, and in the third week, it drops to 85 °F. Each week, the temperature can be decreased by 5 °F until the chicks are ready to live outside. The temperature under the brooder should be in the 65 to 70 °F range, or when the brooder and outside temperature match, the brooder can be removed.
To determine if the temperature in the brooder is suitable, observe the chicks' behaviour. If they are cold, they will huddle together under the heat lamp, and if they are too warm, they will move as far from the lamp as the brooder ring will allow. Chicks that are comfortable will move about freely throughout the available space.
It is important to provide proper ventilation during the brooding period and to keep the brooder clean and dry. Hypothermia due to wet conditions is a common cause of baby poultry deaths. Additionally, the brooder should be set up in a safe place away from predators and have constant access to food and water.
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Draft protection
Newly hatched chicks are unable to regulate their body temperatures and are very delicate, so they need to be kept in a warm and draft-free environment to ensure they grow into healthy adults. Brooders should be used to keep chicks warm and protect them from drafts. Brooders can be commercially purchased or made at home using a cardboard box.
To keep chicks warm, a heat lamp is typically used. The ideal temperature for chicks during their first week of life is 90–95 °F. After the first week, the temperature can be lowered by 5 °F each week until the chicks are four weeks old. In the second week, the ideal temperature is 90 °F, and in the third week, it is 85 °F. If the brooder is too drafty, chicks will flock to one side to escape the draft, so it is important to ensure that the brooder is properly set up to protect the chicks from drafts while still providing proper ventilation. Brooders should have side walls or a draft shield that is at least 12–18 inches tall to keep the wind off the young birds.
If using a heat lamp, it should be positioned at least 12 inches away from bedding to avoid fire hazards. A thermometer can be installed within the brooder to monitor the temperature, but observing chick behaviour can also help determine whether the temperature is suitable. If chicks are cold, they will huddle together under the heat lamp, and if they are too warm, they will move as far from the lamp as possible. If the chicks are comfortable, they will be evenly distributed in the brooder area, softly chirping and pecking around.
In addition to draft protection, chicks also require a clean environment, constant access to food and water, proper flooring material, and a safe location away from predators.
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Frequently asked questions
Newly hatched chicks need to be kept at 90-95°F for the first week of their lives. After the first week, the temperature can be lowered by 5°F each week until they are four weeks old.
If chicks are huddled together under a heat lamp, they are cold. If they are around the edges of the brooding area, they are too warm. Adjust the height of the lamp accordingly and give them enough room to move in and out of the light to regulate their body temperatures.
It is important to provide draft protection and proper ventilation during the brooding period. The brooder should be cleaned daily and kept as dry as possible to prevent hypothermia.
