5-6 week old chixs When can the light go out?

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WildChic

WildChic

Hatching
7 Years
Jun 5, 2012
5
1
7
I have a hen house of 8 chixs and we wanted to know when we can take the light out? Currently we have it on a timer on only at night from 8pm-midnight and back on at 3am to 6am. we live in Eastern Washington so temp out side is 60-70 deg and night is 40deg. Our hen house is fenced in so they can move about outside.

Next question is we like to have our girls "free Range" so we plan to open the gate door to allow free range in the property what is a good age for that?
 
They probably don't need the light at all now, though something small and not well feathered like a silkie might benefit form warmth a little longer. Mostly they need a draft free place to sleep.

They will be safer if they do not free range until full gorwn.
 
Have they been going in on their own at night already? Once they are putting themselves up for the night, you can start letting them freerange as long as there is plenty of cover for them to run to in case a hawk flies over. I would leave the heatlamp on in the coop until they are completely comfortable going in in the evening by themselves. Mine use it more as a security blanket to show them where to perch than for the extra heat. If your fenced in run is close to the door you will leave open for freerange, you shouldn't have any problems, they will already be used to and comfortable with the outside area.
 
Thank you for the information, The girls have been walking into the hen house and putting themself to bed for the last two weeks. The door to the fenced in run around the hen house is by the entry to the hen house, they have cover they can quickly take if a owl/hawk/raven or some sort comes around the house porch is very close to the range area as long as they do not venture to far. Maybe we will do a run at it this weekend.

Thank you again I have found this site to be very helpful you guys are great!
 

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