Acess to water/feed at all times?

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

Our girls are 6 weeks old & in their coop, we have a tractor for them. At night we put them up in the top part & close the little ladder to keep them in there. We also still have the brooder light on at night for them, and we put their food & water up in the enclosed part as well.

What I'm wondering is, do they need the food & water at night? And when did you all stop using the brooder lamp? It's not too cold here at night - it bounces between 40's and 50's at night - 70's during the day.

 

[epeloquin]

If they are fully feathered they should be fine. Some people 'wean' them off the heating lamp.

 

[ScissorChick]

Yes, if they are fully feathered, they are fine.

I start 'weaning' my chicks off the heat lamp at three weeks old.
I just turn it off when it gets daylight, and leave it on at night. At

around 5 weeks, they really shouldn't need it at all unless they

still don't have their feathers. They really SHOULD have access

to food and water at night.

 

[mszekely]

I agree with the water, especially. My chickies drink and eat all night. One night the waterer got clogged and no water came out, I found it in the morning with the little darlins lined up waiting for drinks!

 

[Watermelon_Gypsy]

Thanks you guys! I appreciate the advice

We've taken out the brooder lamp, and will continue to put the water & food up with them at night.