Brooder temps

[plasticin3]

Hi, my chicks are now 12, 12 and 11 days old I am about to pull them for handfeeding. I was wondering what temperature they should be kept at in the brooder... the website I was on says 10-14 day old chicks should be 91-93 degrees F but mine are probably like 70-75 degrees now.. they are in the nest a lot of the time by themselves and the parents don't really sit on them anymore. But they seem to be doing fine. So when I pull them for handfeeding do I need to have them at 90 degrees or can I just keep them around 75??

Also is it bad that the parents are out of the nest a lot? The babies are still getting fed normally and have full crops, but the parents don't sit on them like they used to. Thanks.

[birdlady49]

I answered (hopefully) all of your questions in your other thread. It's normal for the parents to spend less time with the babies as they get older and are able to regulate their own temperatures. Usually they'll still spend the night in the nestbox with the babies though. Still that'll happen less and less as well.

The brooder should be between 80-85 degrees until the feathers open on the babies. Then gradually reduce the temps. By four-five weeks of age, they should be adjusted to room temperatures with no supplemental heat, except maybe overnight.