Are they feathered enough to go out with a heat lamp?

[kodster]

That depends entirely on the degree of feathering and the temperatures.

For me, in my climate and with the breeds I've raised, 6 weeks was the MAXIMUM time before I took them off heat. They've gone into the main coop without heat as early as 3.5 weeks -- because they were well-feathered were sleeping in the far corner of my outdoor brooder away from the heat plate.

The one time I left a little heat on them -- just a 40W bulb -- until 6 weeks was when I had a couple cockerels with the slow feathering genes who were still fairly naked at 4 weeks.

Well, minimum and maximum is the sweet spot, then, isn't it? It all depends on the time of year, as well, the temps outside, lots of variables. Not an easy, pat answer, as the situations even vary day-to-day! Don't you agree?

 

[3KillerBs]

Well, minimum and maximum is the sweet spot, then, isn't it? It all depends on the time of year, as well, the temps outside, lots of variables. Not an easy, pat answer, as the situations even vary day-to-day! Don't you agree?

Yes, very much.

I live in a mild climate and am mainly raising fast-feathering, early-maturing breeds and I brood outdoors -- where I'm usually worrying more about them getting too hot than getting too cold.

Each batch has been different.

 

[SilverBirds]

How old are they and what is the temperature outside?

 

[Ebony Rose]

If none of my hens volunteer to brood chicks, then I brood my chicks on the floor of my coop under a wire 'cage' that doesn't have a floor in it, as soon as they're dry enough to leave the incubator. I use a heat plate (not a lamp) which has the added benefit of not disturbing the adult birds that sleep in the same coop with them and gets the adults used to seeing and hearing the little ones. By day three I am able to remove the heating plate (I live in Panama where it's hot and humid year round) and prop the wire cage up with large pvc tubing (4" opening) to grant access in and out of this protected space for the little ones, but does not grant access to the adults. By the second week my little ones are usually out and about with the adult birds foraging in the daytime but often continue to use their 'safe space' on the floor for a few more weeks at bedtime. By two months, the squirts are fully integrated into the flock and have their place in the pecking order with very minimal squabbling about it.

 

[Dogsothoth]

All the same age?
You're going to need more than one extra large plates.

Different ages, but I actually have 1 plate already in my garage I forgot about.

 

[3KillerBs]

Minimum of 6 weeks old before they go outside into the coop, without a heat lamp.

That depends entirely on the degree of feathering and the temperatures.

For me, in my climate and with the breeds I've raised, 6 weeks was the MAXIMUM time before I took them off heat. They've gone into the main coop without heat as early as 3.5 weeks -- because they were well-feathered were sleeping in the far corner of my outdoor brooder away from the heat plate.

The one time I left a little heat on them -- just a 40W bulb -- until 6 weeks was when I had a couple cockerels with the slow feathering genes who were still fairly naked at 4 weeks.

 

[Mamatomany123]

That depends entirely on the degree of feathering and the temperatures.

For me, in my climate and with the breeds I've raised, 6 weeks was the MAXIMUM time before I took them off heat. They've gone into the main coop without heat as early as 3.5 weeks -- because they were well-feathered were sleeping in the far corner of my outdoor brooder away from the heat plate.

The one time I left a little heat on them -- just a 40W bulb -- until 6 weeks was when I had a couple cockerels with the slow feathering genes who were still fairly naked at 4 weeks.

My youngest are naked necks who wouldn't even go close to the heat at 3 weeks old. I'm with you, climate makes a huge difference.

 

[3KillerBs]

My youngest are naked necks who wouldn't even go close to the heat at 3 weeks old. I'm with you, climate makes a huge difference.

I don't have any indoor-brooding experience to compare to, but I'm told that brooding outdoors makes them feather out faster.

 

[spaceylocust]

I've had a couple hens brood chicks so I watch what they do and do the same. The first mamma took the chicks out on day 1 after everyone hatched! It was June and warm but she was there to warm when needed. The 2nd mamma, different mamma, took hers out after about 3 days. That was in early April and it was much cooler.

The chicks I hatch without a mamma, I use a heating pad mama. It is very easy to make, you just need to find a large heating pad WITHOUT the 2 hour auto shut off. Mine has a button to switch between settings for always on or an auto shut off.

I'll let my chicks go outside as long as they can get back and forth to the heating pad when needed. Never lost any. They sleep in the coop (sectioned off) with the big girls & boy and snuggle under the heating pad at night or stand on it.

This is MUCH safer than a heat lamp and the kiddos can choose how far in they want to be or not. Since my mamma hens take the chicks out so early, I figure its safe as long as they know how to find the heat. Of course, they are protected from predators and have plenty of food and water and I monitor them during the day.

 

[3KillerBs]

Really? I have never herd of that happening.
Maybe some poultry plates, but not human heating pads.

They've been known to start fires in homes when people left them on under some circumstances.

Anything electrical should be used with caution.