Chicks - How long to keep heat lamp on them?

[cochin44]

Shouldn't it be about 100 degrees for first few days? Then how much longer?

 

[DKM]

I don't know the answer either but I'll be watching to see what is said about this. Thanks for asking.

 

[underground chickenman]

100 degrees is too hot. It should be about 95 degrees in the hottest part of the brooder with sufficient room to move away from the heat if they want to. Lower the temp by 5 degrees per week until they are fully feathered and generating their own heat, or about six weeks of age. If the temps are extremely low, you should continue the heat for a while longer, but after about six weeks, they can take temps down in the 60s, probably even 50s. Maybe even lower, but I'm in Florida and don't have much experience with the cold, so I will leave the bottom numbers for our northern friends to comment on.

UGCM

 

[cochin44]

Quote:
Yeah, I'm in south Louisiana, and it just seems like after a week or two at the most, they're ready to get out of the heat. Its only in the low 80's now,
but in a month or two its a big difference.