Chick peeping loudly, help!

[aart]

They’re sleeping right now and I’d prefer not to wake them to take the picture, but here’s the model we’re using https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011U58VG8/?tag=backy-20.

Would be good to measure the temp of surfaces of this pad with an infrared temp gauge.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Chicks need up 100 degrees.

 

[aart]

Chicks need up 100 degrees.

Depends on how heat is supplied.
Plate and pad surfaces are 100+°F.
If using a lamp, floor directly underneath lamp should start out at about 90-95°F the first day or two, then be ramped down based on chick behaviors and ambient temps.

 

[seminolewind]

I put my heat bulb at one end of the brooder. Then watch their behavior. If they pile up under the heat lamp they are cold, if they sleep backed away from it , they are warm or too worm If they are okay, they tend to find a happy medium and don't pile up on eachother.

 

[Kris5902]

Chicks need up 100 degrees.

But they don’t need 100 degrees 24/7 at all times. Mine voluntarily are running around exploring their brooder, and all seem 100% healthy and happy, despite the cool weather. And they are scratching about and utilizing all of the 4x8’ brooder space, even the end without the feed and water. Acting like chickens, then going under for a nap, then resuming chickening around... it’s good free choice heat.

But distress peeps are an alarm, and the OP’s were probably chilly, as upping the heat improved it. Not disagreeing with that, just saying why I prefer outdoor brooding and heat plates so far... my friend is running lamps for her brooder, and their chicks (from the same batch) aren’t nearly as active with the overall warmer temps.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

My new SLW chick is sooo loud! She’s 2-3 days old now and has an Australorp friend who is near inaudible compared to her. On the first night we had them I decided to put in an old sweatshirt that they could cuddle up against, and that’s been working pretty well for the time being. They sleep in there like they would under a broody hen, but when not sleeping, the SLW is screaming!

I don’t think it’s anything health related. They have plenty of food and water, and she’s been eating and drinking just fine. She’s not hunching like she has Cocci, and her vent looks very clear. She has been passing less bowel movements than the other chick, but the ones she has passed look perfectly healthy.

I don’t think it has anything to do with me either. She screams as soon as she wakes up and doesn’t stop regardless if I’m there or not. She lets me pick her up and that quiets her down for a few seconds until she wants to be put back again- then the screaming continues until she gets tired and goes to bed.

Could it maybe be the absence of a heat lamp? We’ve been using a heat pad instead of a heat lamp for fire safety reasons, along with a space heater that brings the room up to about 75-80 degrees. There’s only natural light entering the room as our light bulb seemed to increase pecking on the first day- we haven’t had a problem with pecking since.

Is it possible she could just be a little fussy? Could she be bored? These feel like behaviors that a solo chick would have, but she’s got a friend who is doing wonderfully so far. And to think that I thought SLWs were one of the quieter breeds, haha!

Thank you in advance. This site has always been super helpful .

Yes, you are probably absolutely right! I bet she is cheeping because she is cold! She needs a heat lamp.