aclimitisation

[Rorie]

Couple questions

1) How long does a chick normally stay in a brooder for? I gather its until it has feathers, 5 weeks?

2) How do i make the move from nice warm house with heat lamp to cold outside?

Thanks1

 

[Fred's Hens]

The change is NOT made suddenly.

Raise the heat lamp every week or use a much lower watt bulb.

At week 5, let them get used to the night time darkness and no supplemental heat. Let them get used to the 70-75 temperature of the house.
Choose a warm evening and a predicted warm night and move them out around the 6 week mark. They'll do just fine.

 

[7L Farm]

I've found it alot easier to brood in their coop where they can run around at will. Its definately easier & better for the birds. I don't use the dreaded heat lamp I use this it doesn't cook the birds & uses very liittle electricity. Around four weeks I usually shut the heat off. Then shortly after that I remove the cage & their on their own. I usually put them on their roost a couple of nights & then they catch on & your done.

 

[Apyl]

I brood mine in the house until they are about 2 1/2 weeks old. I then put them out in the coop with the lamp at first then take the lamp away after the temps are out of the freezing range.