Are my chicks ready to be off heat for good?

[cluckmecoop7]

I’ve been posting so many threads lately and I’m really sorry. But….

My chicks are probably between 6-7 weeks old now. There are 12 of them and they have been outside in a coop with a heat lamp for the past few weeks. Recently i started only turning the heat lamp on at night.
Two of the chicks are either younger or growing much slower and aren’t fully feathered or as big as the others yet. I want to wean them off of heat completely. How should i do this?

Average temps are upper 40s during the day and mid 30s at night

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At that age, even in Maine, they should be able to go without a heat source. 12 can keep each other warm when the chill sets in.
7 week olds should easily handle 60F and much lower with that many friends.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

At that age, even in Maine, they should be able to go without a heat source. 12 can keep each other warm when the chill sets in.
7 week olds should easily handle 60F and much lower with that many friends.

Ok. So i should just leave it off some night?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes.
Mine that age have been without heat for a while.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Yes.
Mine that age have been without heat for a while.

They will probably be very scared without the light and warmth. Do i just leave them alone and let them figure it out?
Thanks for your help btw!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't worry. They'll figure it out. In nature, it gets dark at night. They settle down together only to regroup in the morning.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When in doubt, think about chicks needing 90F the first week and drop that by 5F each week till you reach ambient temperature but they can normally handle cooler temps than that, especially when they have a bunch of friends.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I decided to go for it and they did great!

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Don't worry. They'll figure it out. In nature, it gets dark at night. They settle down together only to regroup in the morning.

Mine carried on and on the first night i got rid of heat lamp. Thought something was wrong with them, lol. I added a little night light and that seemed to work. Awww, poor little buddies were so scared of the dark