At what age do chicks not need a brooder light?

[daniel-delarosa]

I have two sets of chicks. The first are about 5 weeks old and I have them my only spare wire cage with a light in the big coop/rabbit shed. The second set are only about a week old. I have no room out in the coop so I have them in my bedroom in a big wooden box with a low watt bulb(steady 87 degrees). My wife thought they were cute at first, but she wants them to go outside now! At roughly what age can I put the older chicks in their own coop with no brooder lamp? They have most of their feathers and are starting to outgrow the brooder.

 

[berniezahm]

Normaly chicks are fully feathered by 8 weeks of age and can be placed out side at that age. Your in Oklahoma and I'm unsure ot temp there but, if it stays above 20 degrees they should be OK without supplemental heat at that age. Start weaning them off of the light now. You can lower the temp 5 degrees per week to get them adjusted, I'd probably lower it 10 degrees per week since they are so old already and you have so little time left.