Thanks for the article! I don’t have electricity out in my coop yet so I need to keep them in a brooder in the house for now but will implement your ideas soon. ?? This past winter it only got down to mid teens a couple nights and now it’s consistently in between 40’s and 60’s (Northern Alabama). With those temps, do I need to worry about a MHP now if I was to take them out to the coop? We bought 4 pullets on Fri but not sure of the age. Estimating 2 weeks or so...still tiny and fluffy ?
Reviews by RetiredCoastieChick
Blooie
I’m sorry I didn’t see this before now and hope I’m not too late with a response. If your chicks have had a heat lamp for two weeks (regardless of whether in your home or the supplier, or the combination) I’m not sure they could deal with a switch at this time. As for putting them out without any heat source, since you don’t have power out there yet, I wouldn’t until you’ve been able to completely and gradually wean them off heat. That can take a few days...even a week or more. They have to acclimate to cooler temps and they have to get used to darkness at sunset. They’ll throw a royal chickie temper tantrum, especially when it gets dark, so you’ll have to pour a glass of wine while they have their whine. And they’ll huddle. They do that more for security than warmth, although it provides both. They don’t like change and suddenly the only constant they’ll have is each other. I hope I’ve answered your questions. I did it with my first batch - evicted their little hineys even though it was still cold, but mine were 5.5 weeks old and getting nicely feathered. I’d hesitate to advise it at 2 weeks. I got lucky but I’d never do it that way again, nor would I advise anyone else to. Starting them off outside is far less stressful on them and on me than giving them that much time to get used to one thing then yanking it away.