Chicken Brooder Temperature Guide by Week

Week-by-week brooder temperature targets with a behaviour-first check.

Quick answer

Start chicken brooder temperature near 95°F (35°C) in week one at chick height, then reduce about 5°F per week. Always confirm with chick behaviour (huddling vs panting) and a thermometer at chick level, not the wall above the lamp.

Quick facts

Week 1 starting point	~95°F at chick height
Weekly change	About −5°F per week as a scaffold
Behaviour beats chart	Huddle = colder; pant/edge = hotter
Related guides	heat lamp duration, chicks outdoors

Brooder temperature guide

Use chick behaviour as the final check: huddling means too cold; panting and edge-avoidance means too hot.

Chick age (weeks) Heat source

How to use this brooder temperature guide

Set chick age in weeks.
Note the guideline temperature.
Measure at chick height under/near the heat gradient.
Adjust until chicks spread comfortably.
Wean heat gradually; do not graduate outdoors the same day you remove heat unless weather is clearly mild, see the outdoor guide.

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FAQ

Is 95°F required?

It is a common week-one starting target at chick height. Behaviour can require adjustments.

Lamp or plate?

Both can work; plates are often chosen to reduce fire risk. Follow manufacturer directions either way.

When do I stop supplemental heat?

When feathered chicks stay comfortable in ambient temperatures day and night. See how long chicks need a heat lamp.

Illustrative chart of brooder temperature by week from about 95F stepping down — Illustrative week ladder (~95°F week one, about 5°F lower each week). Confirm at chick height and with behaviour. Diagram: Flockline Learn, CC0.

See it in context

Iowa State Extension’s small-scale poultry walkthrough covers brooding basics. Use it as context, then confirm temperatures at chick height and watch behaviour in your own brooder.

Sources and further reading

Ohio State University Extension (Ohioline): Raising Meat Chickens (brooding temperature table)
NC State Extension: Keeping Garden Chickens in North Carolina
eXtension poultry resource hub (poultry.extension.org)
Flockline Learn related guides linked in this article.
Community patterns synthesized from public backyard-poultry discussions; individual forum URLs are not cited because they rot and anecdotes vary.