When to integrate 2. Week old chicks with 7 week old chicks? - Page 2

They shouldn't need the heat lamp or any light at night after three weeks if they are inside. I like to move them near a window after three weeks so they can get up with the sun and go down with the sun- like the big girls do. However, I have never found a doable home for them during their 3-5 weeks age. Too big for the brooder and too small for the coop. Big cardboard boxes are handy because you can poke a stick through and get them thinking about roosting at night, but then you have a giant box in your living room that will inevitably get soggy and stinky reeeeal quick.

P.s. too bad you can't construct a separate secure place for them outside- if I had your weather I'd throw'em outside as soon as I brought them home!

Yep mine are 5 weeks and they do that. I dont have a light on them anymore but there is a lamp right next to the cage and when I shut that off at night the chicks scream. They settle down after a few mins and all is well. I just leave them be till they calm down. I do leave other lights on in the room but none that are close to the cage

Oh yes. I've found they adjust much better to the dark if it gradually gets dark in the evening- putting them by a window is very handy for this reason. We rarely have the lights in the house blazing after the sun goes down, but if needed, I have put a light sheet over their box so they quiet down and aren't in total darkness all at once when the lights go out. This is better for Everyone in the house. They will get braver as they age.