Quote:
Our chickens worked out quite well following that basic guideline. The instructions we followed also put strong emphasis on having a range of temperature within the box - ie the heat lamp pointed into a corner so they could pick either warmer or cooler locations and watching their behavior. That is a general guideline followed by every feedstore and hatchery I have come across.
The key was reading their behavior. If they were huddled up all together directly under the light and not moving around much, too cold. If they were spread out to the edges away from each other and the light, obviously wayyyyy too hot. Chicks in a box don't have a hen to keep them warm unfortunately, and those mother hens are little heat bags!
Our chickens worked out quite well following that basic guideline. The instructions we followed also put strong emphasis on having a range of temperature within the box - ie the heat lamp pointed into a corner so they could pick either warmer or cooler locations and watching their behavior. That is a general guideline followed by every feedstore and hatchery I have come across.
The key was reading their behavior. If they were huddled up all together directly under the light and not moving around much, too cold. If they were spread out to the edges away from each other and the light, obviously wayyyyy too hot. Chicks in a box don't have a hen to keep them warm unfortunately, and those mother hens are little heat bags!