How long do they need a heat lamp?

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2tostartwith

2tostartwith

In the Brooder
Mar 14, 2015
10
0
35
Washington state
I have a little bit of a complicated question... I just got 2 EE chicks from a poultry meet up/swap. Originally I was told they were 10.5 weeks. They were not under a heat lamp but there were about 6 huddled together. I brought them home & because it wasn't even 40° out, decided to keep them in my bathroom in a cat carrier. When I got up in the morning, they looked so bad, puffed up, eyes closed, droopy wings. I got ahold of the guy & asked his advice. He said they were only 8.5 weeks & still needed to be under heat. What?! Then why did his sign say 10.5 weeks & they had no heat lamp? So frustrating! Anyway, they have been in my bathroom for 5 days now (so, now they are 9 weeks old). And they are happy & warm. But now I'm not sure when they can go off the heat and outside. Daytime temps are around the mid-40s & nights are in the 30s. Hopefully this made some sense. Any advice would be helpful, thanks!
 
If I recall correctly, they can be out from under a heat lamp at about 12 weeks. I just got 8 golden sex links...very excited to start my flock finally.
 
I know there's a step down of temperature but I thought it was longer than that.

Btw...if they have feathers showing on the wings how old are they really?
 
I got mine from hatchery last wed, so they are about 10 days old. They all have enough wing feathers to fly about, and some have tail feathers.
 
We usually get our chicks in the beginning of March. I move the light up lots higher at about 5-6 weeks but, unless it's unusually warm, I use it for about 10 weeks at night even if they are going out during the warm days. They get cold at night without the light and cold makes them loud and fussy.

They don't go out to the main coop until they are close to laying.
 
Last edited:
I think mine are fully feathered. (Sorry, not the greatest picture)
400
 
aggiemae said:
We usually get our chicks in the beginning of March. I move the light up lots higher at about 5-6 weeks but, unless it's unusually warm, I use it for about 10 weeks at night even if they are going out during the warm days.  They get cold at night without the light and cold makes them loud and fussy. 

They don't go out to the main coop until they are close to laying.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking maybe I will start taking them out on "field trips" during the day. Then back under the lamp at night. At least for another week or so.
 

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