My brooder is in the coop. In summer I don't use much heat, I let their actions guide me on that. One really hot summer I turned the heat lamp off during the day on the second day they were in there. I turned the overnight heat off after 5 nights. I think that was in 2013 during a really brutal heat wave. But you are concerned with cold, not heat.
Most of the year I let them out at 5 weeks of age to integrate them. If it is a little below freezing, like the mid 20's F, I might wait a couple of more days. That's why I've had 5-1/2 week olds go through nights in the mid 20's with no supplemental heat.
When they are very young and still in down you have to be more careful. But once they are feathered out, they are feathered out. That's usually around 4 weeks, five weeks is being careful.
Most of the year I let them out at 5 weeks of age to integrate them. If it is a little below freezing, like the mid 20's F, I might wait a couple of more days. That's why I've had 5-1/2 week olds go through nights in the mid 20's with no supplemental heat.
When they are very young and still in down you have to be more careful. But once they are feathered out, they are feathered out. That's usually around 4 weeks, five weeks is being careful.
