chickens
Is my chick heat plate broken if it doesn't feel hot to my hand
Oh, I feel this one in my bones, and my slightly singed fingertips. Welcome to chicken parenthood, where everything feels like a test you didn't study for. First off, take a deep breath. That heat plate is *supposed* to feel barely warm to your hand. Chicks don't need a scorching hot surface; they need a gentle, consistent belly-warmer that mimics a mama hen's body temp. If it's set to 100 degrees and your hand isn't recoiling in pain, that's actually a cluck-tastic sign it's working correctly. Your chicks will tell you if they're chilly by huddling directly underneath, or if they're too hot by spreading out to the edges. Trust their fluffy little instincts before you trust your own human thermometer-hand.