Single hen

[Bird mum]

Hello all,

I am new here and have a few questions,

I have a incubator and have hatched quail for a few years.

I have just hatched 2 polish bantams last night.

I have a home made brooder which is an old aquarium with 2 flexible arm desk lamps bent over with 60 watt bulbs in them.The temp directly under the bulbs is around 90f

and away from them is only about 60 is this too cold?

the only other option that i have is to keep the chicks in the incubator and lower the temp

What shall i do.

Also the chicks seem a bit wobbely on walking is this normal

Thanks for your help

[Griffin]

They walk around like drunks for the first 24 hours or so

 

Let your chicks tell you if it's too hot or too cold. I find mine are very noisy if they're cold, or they huddle together & fidget. Chicks at the right temperature flop down contentedly and sleep wherever they land. If they're too hot they'll move as far away from the heat as possible and might start gasping or panting.

[kitchens]

We kept our day olds in a cardboard box with a desk lamp for heat as for some reason I could not get a heat lamp for love nor money. They were in our study - so they were in a room that was also centrally heated. Everything went well and I now have some very beautiful young ladies.

[Bird mum]

Thanks folks

i have left them in the incubator until today and managed to buy a heat lamp online

so i will be putting them in the brooder later

they must be happy as they are slumped down a sleep most of the time, until they see me then jump up cheeping

they are so cute.

I have noticed that they are a bit differant from each other regarding there heads

one has a larger domed head than the other.

Is this a cockeral and a hen, and if so should i buy 2 more hens or what.

[Avalon Fantasy]

I agree with the theory of watching them to see what happens, its nearly always best.

But if you want a more unorthodox way of rearing a chick have a look at my pictures from the website name link.

Best of luck with all your chicks.. I love them!!!