Chick brooding temperature guide
Start day-old chicks at about 33 to 35 °C at chick level and reduce by roughly 3 °C each week until you reach house temperature at around 21 to 24 °C by week four to five. Always confirm with the chicks themselves: evenly spread, active chicks mean the temperature is right, whatever the thermometer says.
Updated 25 August 2026 · Independent veterinary review scheduled
Get qualified help immediately if you see
- Chicks piling and dying overnight.
- Chicks quiet and inactive during the day.
- Wet, caked litter in the first week.
Temperature by week
| Age | Temperature at chick level | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1-7 | 33-35 °C | Chicks spread evenly, feeding and chirping softly |
| Week 2 | 30-32 °C | Chicks starting to use more of the brooder space |
| Week 3 | 27-29 °C | Feathering begins; watch for night-time chilling |
| Week 4 | 24-26 °C | Chicks using the whole house comfortably |
| Week 5+ | 21-24 °C | Heat usually no longer needed except on cold nights |
Read the chicks, not just the thermometer
- Piled under the heat and chirping loudly: too cold.
- Pushed to the walls, panting, wings held out: too hot.
- All on one side: a draught is coming from that direction.
- Spread evenly, eating, drinking and moving: correct.
The brooding basics that decide the whole cycle
- Pre-heat the brooder for several hours before the chicks arrive so the floor is warm, not just the air.
- Give clean water at room temperature immediately on arrival, before feed.
- Use a brooder guard with rounded corners for the first week.
- Keep litter dry and 5 to 8 cm deep.
- Give continuous light in the first days so chicks find feed and water.
- Never place chicks straight onto a cold concrete floor.
Why the first week matters so much
Chicks cannot control their own body temperature in the first days. A cold first week shows up later as uneven weights, poor feed conversion and higher mortality — long after the temperature problem has been fixed.
Have these answers ready
Whether you ask KukuVet or call a vet, these are the questions you will be asked.
- What temperature reads at chick level, not at your height?
- How are the chicks distributed right now?
- Is the litter dry and deep enough?
- Is the heat source steady at night, including during power cuts?
Safe things you can do today
- Put the thermometer at chick height, not on the wall.
- Pre-heat the house before delivery.
- Check chicks at night, when temperature problems usually happen.
- Keep a backup heat plan for power interruptions.
Every farm is different — describe yours
KukuVet asks one short question at a time, then gives you a plan for your birds. Free to start, in English or Kiswahili.
Example: “My 300 day-old chicks arrive tomorrow. How should I set up the brooder?”
Common questions
How long do chicks need heat?
Usually three to four weeks, longer in cold or high-altitude areas and shorter in hot ones. Let chick behaviour decide, not the calendar.
Can I use a charcoal jiko for brooding?
Many farmers do, but it must be well ventilated and monitored. Poor ventilation can build up dangerous fumes, and an unattended jiko is a fire risk.
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About this page
Published 25 August 2026 · Updated 25 August 2026 · Next review 25 February 2027
KukuVet helps you organise what you are seeing and decide what to do next. It does not diagnose disease and does not replace a qualified poultry veterinarian, especially where birds are dying.