5 Week Old Chicks - Do They Still Need a Heating Plate?

[FeatheredFamily6]

In a house at 70F, they don't need extra heat.

Is your coop ready for them? It's time to start getting those chicks outside.

I want them to go outside at week 6 but the hatchery told me week 8 is the best.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have standard chicks fully off heat at 4 weeks down around 40F.

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah true, no they were locked up and then i let them out. I still think 5 weeks can handle it.

5 weeks old outside here where nights are in the 50s, with no hen and no heat source, at five weeks, I wouldn't do it.

With a hen below zero, I would, and have.

 

[Debbie292d]

I want them to go outside at week 6 but the hatchery told me week 8 is the best.

How cold does it get at night and what breed are these?

We put silkies out at 6 weeks when it's 50F and up.

I would never want to know my chicks outside were suffering from the cold so if I ever think they might be, we have two Cozy Coop radiant heaters and we'll stick one with them for a week until they are better acclimated.

 

[osint2026]

5 weeks old outside here where nights are in the 50s, with no hen and no heat source, at five weeks, I wouldn't do it.

With a hen below zero, I would, and have.

True, I had two AC Chicks 3 weeks outside at the 60s-65

 

[FeatheredFamily6]

How cold does it get at night and what breed are these?

We put silkies out at 6 weeks when it's 50F and up.

I would never want to know my chicks outside were suffering from the cold so if I ever think they might be, we have two Cozy Coop radiant heaters and we'll stick one with them for a week until they are better acclimated.

Breeds:
1. Brahamas Light
2. Easter Egger (Auracana)
3. White Leghorn
4. Wyandotte Golden Laced
5. Olive Egger
6. Australorp

Nights get to about low 50s F.

 

[Debbie292d]

Breeds:
1. Brahamas Light
2. Easter Egger (Auracana)
3. White Leghorn
4. Wyandotte Golden Laced
5. Olive Egger
6. Australorp

Nights get to about low 50s F.

All hardy breeds.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Breeds:
1. Brahamas Light
2. Easter Egger (Auracana)
3. White Leghorn
4. Wyandotte Golden Laced
5. Olive Egger
6. Australorp

Nights get to about low 50s F.

Those breeds should all be fine to transition off heat. If the coop is done I'd work on weaning them off heat fully (including lowering the room temperature unless that's the temperature you keep the house at) and getting them the heck out of there.

Coddling them may make owners feel better but the birds really don't need it.

 

[FeatheredFamily6]

Those breeds should all be fine to transition off heat. If the coop is done I'd work on weaning them off heat fully (including lowering the room temperature unless that's the temperature you keep the house at) and getting them the heck out of there.

Coddling them may make owners feel better but the birds really don't need it.

Okay sounds great, so taking the heating plate out at day/night is a good start to weaning then off heat? Thank you for your reply!

 

[FeatheredFamily6]

All hardy breeds.

Great! Thank you !