Brooder temperature chart
Chicks need a warm, safe start. Enter the hatch date for today's target, then follow them week by week until they move outside.
The rules behind the numbers
Space, feeders and water by age
| Age | Floor per chick | Feeder per chick | Waterer per chick |
|---|---|---|---|
| week 1 | 0.25 sq ft | 1 in | 0.5 in |
| 2-3 weeks | 0.5 sq ft | 1.5 in | 0.5 in |
| 3-5 weeks | 0.75 sq ft | 2 in | 0.5 in |
| 5-8 weeks | 1 sq ft | 2 in | 0.75 in |
| 8 weeks and up | 1.5 sq ft | 3 in | 1 in |
Penn State Extension figures. Give larger breeds more room.
Questions
What temperature should a brooder be?
Start at 90–95 °F at chick level under the heat in week 1, then lower it about 5 °F each week (week 1: 90–95 °F, week 2: 85–90 °F, week 3: 80–85 °F, week 4: 75–80 °F, week 5: 70–75 °F, week 6: 70 °F).
How do I know if chicks are too hot or cold?
Watch them: chicks huddled under the heat and peeping loudly are cold; chicks crowded at the far edges, panting with wings held out, are too hot; chicks spread out evenly, eating, drinking and napping, are just right. Their behaviour is a better guide than the thermometer.
When can chicks go without a heat lamp?
When they are about 5–6 weeks old and mostly feathered, and the room stays around 65–70 °F. In cold weather keep heat available longer.
When can chicks go outside?
Fully feathered chicks can move to the coop at about 6 weeks old, once nights are mild. Start with short supervised visits on warm days.
Are heat lamps safe?
Heat lamps cause barn and garage fires. Secure the lamp with a chain or clamp plus a backup, keep it at least 20 inches from anything flammable, never closer than 15 inches to the bedding, and use a guard. A radiant heating plate is a safer alternative.
Sources
- 1Brooding of Domestic FowlPenn State Extension
- 2Brooding and Caring for ChicksUniversity of New Hampshire Extension
- 3Brooding Chickens and Quail (Information Sheet 1338)Mississippi State University Extension (T. W. Smith Jr.)
- 4Management of the Small Flock of Chickens (MF-2390)Kansas State University Research and Extension (R. S. Beyer; May 1999)
- 5Chicken housing (housing requirements)University of Maryland Extension (J. Moyle; updated 2022-05-11; space table cites Clauer 2009)
- 6Simple Steps to Starting Healthy Chicks in Maine (Bulletin #2221)University of Maine Cooperative Extension (D. Coffin; 2020)
- 7Hatching and Caring for ChicksUtah State University Extension (Farnsworth, Hadfield, Longmore; March 2025)
- 8Backyard Flock Tip: Housing and Confinement for the Backyard FlockUniversity of Georgia Cooperative Extension (C. Dunkley; Jan 2010)
- 9How to feed your laying hens (PNW 477)Oregon State University Extension / PNW (J. Hermes; 2016, reviewed 2024)
- 10Maine Poultry Facts: Lighting For Small-Scale Flocks (Bulletin #2227)University of Maine Cooperative Extension (Hawes; updated Brzozowski, Coffin, Knight; 2009, 2021)
- 11Pasty Butt: Sick Baby Chick Symptoms and CarePurina Animal Nutrition
- 12Management Requirements for Laying FlocksPenn State Extension (P. Clauer; updated 2016-05-17)