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

[Saveria]

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

It was a review from a website, so I can't be 100% sure it was true, but it didn't sound like she was lying. She sounded genuinely pissed and amazed at the same time.

 

[Saveria]

I've always bought cheap heating pads but we test them thoroughly (on ourselves) before using them for chicks. They need to be stored fairly flat, folding or bending them can damage the wiring inside which could lead to problems.

Yeah, that is a great idea.

 

[Dogsothoth]

Good idea.
Get them used to it before moving them to the coop.
Only 2 chicks?

Nope. This exact brood group is 6. I have 6 from another brood & 13 from another. far too many right now. I just normally don’t brood outside.

 

[kodster]

View attachment 3122031


If I have a heat lamp in the area still, are they feathered enough to go out in the little coop?

Minimum of 6 weeks old before they go outside into the coop, without a heat lamp. They were hatched at the temp of 101.5F, so you have to incrementally reduce that temperature to the outside temp (avg 70F) at this time of year, 5 degrees per week, by raising the heat lamp, as their feathers grow completely out... no fuzziness. You can take them outside during the day when it's warm enough, for supervised free-ranging, but bring them back inside when the temps are too cool yet or at night, with fuzziness, but permanently, there should be very little to no fuzziness. Otherwise, unless you've got a mama hen who is willing to take them under her wings to keep them warm, you're risking loss.

 

[Saveria]

Just make sure to buy a high quality heating pad, I have heard of cheap ones lighting on fire