2 week old Chicks not using heat at night

[lillykew]

Hello All!

I have 3 chicks, 2 weeks old, who have been transitioned to a larger brooder box after being in a cardboard box for the first week. I made them a homemade heat plate with a metal cooling rack and an always on heat pad, and while they were in the cardboard box they used it all the time.

Now that they've transitioned to the larger box in the garage (temp controlled), they always huddle together instead of going under the heat at night. I've been moving them by hand to under "mama" at night once it's dark because they're only about half feathered.

Do I need to keep doing this? Do I just figure they don't need the heat anymore? I saw some similar posts but all of those peoples' birds were at least twice the age of mine. I live in a warm climate but it's still been getting cool at night (well above freezing though)

Thanks in advance, will post pictures in the morning.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Are they being brooded inside? If so 2-3 weeks is about when mine also prefer to ditch the heat plate. Some may sleep near it but often they huddle together here or there.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's the temperature in the brooder location at night?

 

[lillykew]

What's the temperature in the brooder location at night?

I keep the heater set to about 70, so it's actually around 68

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have brooded chicks 3 times now with a brooder plate in my coop. Every time they have started to sit behind it at night at about 2 weeks old. This has corresponded several times with a stretch when the outside temps got down to mid-thirties. I panicked in the beginning & tried to shove them underneath, but my coop area is not easily accessible especially in the dark, so I started letting them do what they wanted & I never lost one. YMMV

 

[lillykew]

Thank you for the advice everyone! I've been putting the chicks "to bed" every night but I think I'll leave them alone tonight and see how it goes.

Here's some pics from today

 

[rosemarythyme]

I keep the heater set to about 70, so it's actually around 68

68 at 2 weeks old is pretty comfy for them, so as long as they stay huddled together they're probably doing just fine as far as meeting their warmth needs. They look very perky in your photos!

 

[lillykew]

A brief update, I walked in to check on them this morning and they were all sitting about halfway under the heater, awake. The temp in the room they're in is the same, so who knows lol. I was about to take the heater out but I suppose I'll leave it there a bit longer!

 

[rosemarythyme]

A brief update, I walked in to check on them this morning and they were all sitting about halfway under the heater, awake. The temp in the room they're in is the same, so who knows lol. I was about to take the heater out but I suppose I'll leave it there a bit longer!
View attachment 4087486

It's still something of a source of familiarity and comfort, that's why they're sitting there even if the heat is off. Up to you if you want to leave it for a few days or not.