Poultry Talk Ontario (pto.ca)

My chicks are driving me bonkers. They're awake almost the whole night chirping and playing. Yesterday I checked on them often during the day and woke them all up each time in hopes they would sleep better last night. Nope. Didn't work.

I'm thinking of heating the bathroom roasty toasty and turning the heat lamp out around 11 or so and it can go back on around 5. Thoughts?

Hmmm I'd leave the spot lamp on. They will not be able to self- regulate their temperature as easily if it's just the room that's heated. That's why those heated brooder pads are good, at night time it's dark instead of being lit 24/7 like with an infrared lamp. Plus the chicks learn what dark is all about.
There are those ceramic heater "lamps" (don't know exactly what they are called). They are on ebay, the 110 volt ones are pricey but not as bad as the heat pad. Hopefully Gawd will say something, he's the reptile heating expert!

do you have a white lamp or a red lamp? if it's not red, put in a red one....
i have a brinsea brooder plate, love those....they're only awake when the sun is up. LOL

I used a red heater lamp with the chicks. Raised it as they grew. Lights out when i went to bed except for the red lamp. When i came down in the morning they were all flaked out and stirred to conciousness when i turned the reguar lighting on. They sleep when they sleep, theres no schedule.

WLLady wrote:QR_BBPOST do you have a white lamp or a red lamp? if it's not red, put in a red one....
i have a brinsea brooder plate, love those....they're only awake when the sun is up. LOL

I had white one in, NormaK suggested I switch to red. Swapped it out yesterday for red.

SandyM wrote:QR_BBPOST My chicks are driving me bonkers. They're awake almost the whole night chirping and playing. Yesterday I checked on them often during the day and woke them all up each time in hopes they would sleep better last night. Nope. Didn't work.

I'm thinking of heating the bathroom roasty toasty and turning the heat lamp out around 11 or so and it can go back on around 5. Thoughts?

Something isn't quite right, if they aren't Hungry, Thirsty or Cold, they should be doing lots and lots of sleeping the first week or two even with both red heat lamp and regular light on.
Could there be a draft somewhere? Have you measured temperature inside the brooder ?
Are their crops full?
Can you spend a bit of time pecking at the feed with your index finger and watch if they all come to eat eventually?

TomK wrote:QR_BBPOST I used a red heater lamp with the chicks. Raised it as they grew. Lights out when i went to bed except for the red lamp. When i came down in the morning they were all flaked out and stirred to conciousness when i turned the reguar lighting on. They sleep when they sleep, theres no schedule.

That sounds about right!:)

I dont use the red brooder lights my self n I never used them for reptiles either... to expensive to purchase and to expensive to run. I use 100 watt rough use globe bulbs very close to the birds. I haven't had one break or burn out yet.

Thats one of the joys of having birds in the house Sandy. but OC may be on to something....

And switching to red they were still up all night?

Just few brooder temperature guidelines from Frey's
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HEAT SOURCE: Maintaining proper temperatures in the brooding area is critically important. Chicks, especially meat chicks, that are exposed to low brooding temperatures for even a short period of time (less than one hour) cannot maintain core body temperature, which can lead to increased mortality and a much lower than expected live weight. Whether you use electric heat lamps, radiant tube heaters, propane brooders, or any other type of heat, make sure your equipment works properly. The most common source of heat is the heat lamp (250-watt infrared bulb). It should be hung at approximately 18" from the floor. The temperature should be 90-92º F (32-33º C) at 2" from the floor. Check the temperature at this level using a thermometer. One heat lamp should be sufficient for 50 to 100 chicks, depending on the weather and the time of year, but we highly recommend using two lamps in case one fails. The temperature should be lowered 5º F (2-3º C) per week until it reaches 70º F (21º C) at six weeks. Heat lamps can be raised or lowered to adjust temperature levels. Comfort is the key! When the birds are older, you can eliminate supplemental heat during the day, and finally eliminate it altogether.

I'm not trying to worry you cause I know when it comes to your birds you already stress enough, but... If my chicks are noisy, it means something is wrong. My brooders are in our basement. If I hear peeping I go see what is wrong. Usually they are out of food, water, a light has gone out or the Kat is pestering them. As long as they are comfy and have food and water they are quiet.