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heat at 4 weeks

post #1 of 8
4/2/10 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 

Hi,

I just moved my four week old chicks out of the house brooder and into a larger brooder in the barn.  They are in a rubbermaid horse trough with a heat lamp at each end.  I have 4 NH Reds and two EE's.  They are all mostly feathered. 

We are hoping to work on and maybe finish their coop this weekend.  My question is how much heat do they need at 4 weeks?  Right now we are having very nice weather, but it is NH and the nights are chilly.  And like the saying goes here, "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it'll change."  So, it's possible that next week we could be back down in the 30-40's for daytime temps.

Please advise on how much heat they need at this point.  I think I am tending towards keeping more heat than they necessarily need out of my own concern, but want them to be ready to go outside as well.

Thanks!

Owner of Broken Dog Farm & proud Mommy to; 4 Schipperkes, 1 Dane cross, 1 Australian Kelpie, 1 German Shepherd, 1 Anatolian Shepherd, 4 kitties, 2 canaries, 2 finches, 2 bunnies, 1 mini horse, 3 mini donkeys, 1 paint, 2 Appendix, 1 Appaloosa, 4 new NH Reds, and three fish tanks!
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Owner of Broken Dog Farm & proud Mommy to; 4 Schipperkes, 1 Dane cross, 1 Australian Kelpie, 1 German Shepherd, 1 Anatolian Shepherd, 4 kitties, 2 canaries, 2 finches, 2 bunnies, 1 mini horse, 3 mini donkeys, 1 paint, 2 Appendix, 1 Appaloosa, 4 new NH Reds, and three fish tanks!
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post #2 of 8
4/2/10 at 7:19am

Here in NW Montana I am wondering the same thing. My chicks are now just over 4 weeks old and look to be almost fully feathered. I know that full feathering is supposed to take place around 8-10 weeks so they must have some work to do.

They are currently in my living room, and driving me crazy at the moment! They are too big and are making dust everywhere and are getting smelly smile Usually I buy my chicks about this time, so that when they are ready to go outside it is warmer. Why I did it this way this year, I'm not sure!

Last night it got down to 29 degrees. It is in the high 40's to 50's during the day. I am going to move them to the garden shed with heat lamps and see how they do for the day.  I think the first night I will check on them several times and make sure that they are getting enough heat. I think as long as you watch them and make sure that they are comfortable with the amount of heat your providing, then they should be okay.

Darlene

A country girl who is living in the city limits in Kalispell MT with 1 very patient husband, 2 kids, 3 rabbits, 13 chickens, 1 pug, 1 boston terrier and 1 cat.
www.apronstringsandchickenwings.blogspot.com
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A country girl who is living in the city limits in Kalispell MT with 1 very patient husband, 2 kids, 3 rabbits, 13 chickens, 1 pug, 1 boston terrier and 1 cat.
www.apronstringsandchickenwings.blogspot.com
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post #3 of 8
4/2/10 at 7:22am

yeah thats true about mt weather too . the weather can change several times a day.
im in sw mt. and mine are 5 weeks old and there fairing great where we have them. there in our garage with heat lamp in an old hot tub.

5 silverlaced whydotts, 1 new hampshire red,2 barred plymouth rocks, 1 cukoo marin, 1 speckled sussex, 4 rhode island reds, 1 red star sexlink, 1 black austrloupe, 2 aracuna chicks
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5 silverlaced whydotts, 1 new hampshire red,2 barred plymouth rocks, 1 cukoo marin, 1 speckled sussex, 4 rhode island reds, 1 red star sexlink, 1 black austrloupe, 2 aracuna chicks
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post #4 of 8
4/2/10 at 7:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by montana girl 

Here in NW Montana I am wondering the same thing. My chicks are now just over 4 weeks old and look to be almost fully feathered. I know that full feathering is supposed to take place around 8-10 weeks so they must have some work to do.

They are currently in my living room, and driving me crazy at the moment! They are too big and are making dust everywhere and are getting smelly smile Usually I buy my chicks about this time, so that when they are ready to go outside it is warmer. Why I did it this way this year, I'm not sure!

Last night it got down to 29 degrees. It is in the high 40's to 50's during the day. I am going to move them to the garden shed with heat lamps and see how they do for the day.  I think the first night I will check on them several times and make sure that they are getting enough heat. I think as long as you watch them and make sure that they are comfortable with the amount of heat your providing, then they should be okay.Darlene


This is really the best rule to follow.  However there is a "technical" theory that goes like this. 

95 degrees to start with then drop 5 degrees every week after that. So 95 the first week, 90 the second week, 85 the third week, 80 the fourth week.  I have found that some hatches prefer it a little cooler.  Montana girls idea is what I use.  ( I am in MT as well, we were at 10 this morning.  Brr!)

~The Chicken Chick~   

I live happily in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by animals and family!  ** Just because it says I'm on line, doesn't mean its me. DH says reading BYC is the only real way to know what I am up too!!
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~The Chicken Chick~   

I live happily in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by animals and family!  ** Just because it says I'm on line, doesn't mean its me. DH says reading BYC is the only real way to know what I am up too!!
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post #5 of 8
4/2/10 at 7:57am

At four weeks, they still need a light that will provide them with heat of about 80 degrees. As long as they can get under it when they feel cool, they will be all right. This can be lowered about 5 degrees a week until they are about 10-12 weeks when they are fully feathered. frow

"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral."
 Frank Lloyd Wright

Visit my hens live on camera at http://backyardhencam.com.
Gardeners please see my garden blog at http://centralcoastgardening.com.
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"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral."
 Frank Lloyd Wright

Visit my hens live on camera at http://backyardhencam.com.
Gardeners please see my garden blog at http://centralcoastgardening.com.
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post #6 of 8
4/2/10 at 12:33pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks everybody!

big_smile

Owner of Broken Dog Farm & proud Mommy to; 4 Schipperkes, 1 Dane cross, 1 Australian Kelpie, 1 German Shepherd, 1 Anatolian Shepherd, 4 kitties, 2 canaries, 2 finches, 2 bunnies, 1 mini horse, 3 mini donkeys, 1 paint, 2 Appendix, 1 Appaloosa, 4 new NH Reds, and three fish tanks!
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Owner of Broken Dog Farm & proud Mommy to; 4 Schipperkes, 1 Dane cross, 1 Australian Kelpie, 1 German Shepherd, 1 Anatolian Shepherd, 4 kitties, 2 canaries, 2 finches, 2 bunnies, 1 mini horse, 3 mini donkeys, 1 paint, 2 Appendix, 1 Appaloosa, 4 new NH Reds, and three fish tanks!
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post #7 of 8
4/2/10 at 12:56pm

I am mean and take the heat completley away at 6-7 weeks. I have 8 week old chicks outside in their coop and it's still upper 20's/lower 30's at night, they're fully feathered and just fine.

I still panic and worry that first night they are without a heat lamp, but they are always fine.

Wife to a wonderful chicken tolerant husband, mommy to a 4 year old princess and a brand new baby girl, owner of too many dogs, one mean bunny, lots of guineas, and not enough chickens!
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Wife to a wonderful chicken tolerant husband, mommy to a 4 year old princess and a brand new baby girl, owner of too many dogs, one mean bunny, lots of guineas, and not enough chickens!
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post #8 of 8
4/15/12 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by txchickie View Post

I am mean and take the heat completley away at 6-7 weeks. I have 8 week old chicks outside in their coop and it's still upper 20's/lower 30's at night, they're fully feathered and just fine.

I still panic and worry that first night they are without a heat lamp, but they are always fine.



I'm biting my nails.... My 4 week old babies just got booted out today. It's 57 right now and will be 83 tomorrow. No heat lamp for them. They have been without a heat lamp for 2 days and they are fine. IMO, they feather out faster without heat. Doesn't mean I don't worry. My biggest fear is a fire from a heat lamp.

Chickens, I need more chickens.... and ducks too, yeah some ducks too!

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Chickens, I need more chickens.... and ducks too, yeah some ducks too!

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