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New chicks cannot control their own body temperature. Tap your chicks’ age below to see exactly how warm the brooder should be — then lower the heat by about 5°F every week.
95°F (35°C)
Week 1: chicks sleep near the heat and peep softly.
The Full Brooder Temperature Chart
| Age | Temperature | What you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 95°F (35°C) | Chicks stay near the heat, sleeping and peeping softly |
| Week 2 | 90°F (32°C) | Still close to the heat, starting to explore the brooder |
| Week 3 | 85°F (29°C) | Moving around more, first feathers on wings |
| Week 4 | 80°F (27°C) | Wing and tail feathers coming in, very active |
| Week 5 | 75°F (24°C) | Mostly feathered, busy all day |
| Week 6 | 70°F (21°C) | Nearly fully feathered |
| Week 7+ | 65°F (18°C) or room temp | Fully feathered — ready for most outdoor weather |
Read Your Chicks, Not Just the Thermometer
Too Cold
Chicks pile tightly under the heat source and cheep loudly. Lower the lamp or raise the heat.
Just Right
Chicks spread evenly around the brooder — eating, drinking, sleeping in small groups.
Too Hot
Chicks crowd the far edges, hold wings out and pant. Raise the lamp or reduce the heat.
Always measure the temperature at chick level, right under the edge of the heat — not on the brooder wall. Keep one end of the brooder cooler so chicks can move away from the heat and choose their own comfort zone.
