At what age do you turn off heat lamp?

[acman]

Ive got a dozen two or three week old chicks. I turn off the light at night. Its about 80-85 during the day in the brooder. They eat and grow like crazy. Hopefully they can go to the coop soon. Im in wv and we still have cold nights ahead. 68 degrees todays high

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I have 6 chicks in a 4x4 brooder so they do have room. We have had an unusually cold winter temps 0 to 10 below. I couldnt see putting them in the elements that cold. However I am anxious to get them in the coop. Just wandering when is the right time. I am a newbee so I am sure people are thinking what stupid question he asks.

I just got some chicks for my nephew at TSC this weekend and I put them in a Frugah coop and put a heat lamp in it. I wrapped one end with a tarp to keep the heat in and the other end (it is seven feet long) is open so when they end up getting warm they will have plenty of room to get away from the heat when the time comes. Always works for me. Give them two options right from the start and watch to see when they stop hanging out around the lamp.

As cold as it is where you are, though you don't say how old the chicks are, I would personally wait until the chicks are fully feathered for at least two weeks before trying them out a cold run. However, they'd be fine in a heated coop if you just want to get them out of the house.

 

[birdlady79]

My chicks are 3 & 4 wks... They went in their coop tonight w a heat lamp .. They loved it..I'll turn light off during day as weather warms up... I can't wait till my other two can go out there... I think if I do it again, they will be raised in the garage not the house!!

 

[wsmith]

My Dominique chicks are usually about 1/2 feathered at 2 weeks. At that point, if the overnight temps are above 20F, I put them outside in one of the brooder coops with the door closed and a heat lamp (yes, there is ventilation, and I have remote digital thermometers to monitor temperatures). This heat lamp is connected to a thermostat. The thermostat is variable. Right now they are in the house at 75F, with no problems. They will go outside on Wednesday afternoon into the brooder coop. Each week I slightly lower the temperature and by the time they are 4-5 weeks they hav eno extra heat, unless the temps drop dramatically, at which point the lamp will turn on automatically.

Different breeds feather out at different rates, so watch your chicks. They will indicate whether they are too cold or too warm. The "guidelines" are great, but remember that they are just guidelines, and they need to be adjusted for your particular chickens. Normally, if the chicks are fully feathered and healthy they shouldn't need supplimental heat.

 

[lazy gardener]

Guidelines are just what the new poultry keeper needs, to deal with the panic of raising babies, but as you gain experience and knowledge, you'll find your own comfort level. I'll be starting my chicks in the garage this year, (NEVER AGAIN IN THE HOUSE!) and moving them to an outdoor brooder/tractor/grow out coop as soon as the weather cooperates enough for me to move and convert my green house! Come on winter... give it up already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sacchick]

My Dominique chicks are usually about 1/2 feathered at 2 weeks. At that point, if the overnight temps are above 20F, I put them outside in one of the brooder coops with the door closed and a heat lamp (yes, there is ventilation, and I have remote digital thermometers to monitor temperatures). This heat lamp is connected to a thermostat. The thermostat is variable. Right now they are in the house at 75F, with no problems. They will go outside on Wednesday afternoon into the brooder coop. Each week I slightly lower the temperature and by the time they are 4-5 weeks they hav eno extra heat, unless the temps drop dramatically, at which point the lamp will turn on automatically.

Different breeds feather out at different rates, so watch your chicks. They will indicate whether they are too cold or too warm. The "guidelines" are great, but remember that they are just guidelines, and they need to be adjusted for your particular chickens. Normally, if the chicks are fully feathered and healthy they shouldn't need supplimental heat.

Thanks for the encouragement, it is just what I needed. My chicks are a little over 3 weeks, feathered out pretty well. I am in No CA and it has been in the 40ies at night but 70-80 in the day. My chicks are flying all over the Brooder and seem like they need more room. My coop is ready to go and I will put the Brinsea out there so hopefully all will go well! thanks again I just needed a push!

 

[sacchick]

Thanks for the encouragement, it is just what I needed. My chicks are a little over 3 weeks, feathered out pretty well. I am in No CA and it has been in the 40ies at night but 70-80 in the day. My chicks are flying all over the Brooder and seem like they need more room. My coop is ready to go and I will put the Brinsea out there so hopefully all will go well! thanks again I just needed a push!

Guidelines are just what the new poultry keeper needs, to deal with the panic of raising babies, but as you gain experience and knowledge, you'll find your own comfort level. I'll be starting my chicks in the garage this year, (NEVER AGAIN IN THE HOUSE!) and moving them to an outdoor brooder/tractor/grow out coop as soon as the weather cooperates enough for me to move and convert my green house! Come on winter... give it up already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have learned SO much from this forum but nothing like DOING it! There are some things I would do differently as well. Last night they stayed out in the coop I checked the temp several times in the night 52 degrees and they never went under the heat plate.....Acted the same as when they were in the house in the Brooder, no crisis LOL The most rewarding thing is to see them act like Chickens! Scratching, dust bathing, flopping around....It is great!

 

[Tyaloria]

We are actually having some hot weather where I am in the UK *shock* so I think I will give the bulb a break for the rest of the day and see how the temp fluctuates.

 

[Tyaloria]

I'm glad I just turned off the lamp, the bulb has got so hot on top its changed colour. never a good sign.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I don't remember where I read it but I read that the chicks should stay penned up until they are 8 weeks old, fully feathered. I have chain link fence and I'm afraid to let the little ones out until they can't get through the fence. We had chicken wire around it but I (my chickens outside) needed a bigger pen and we haven't gotten the chicken wire back around it since we moved it and enlarged it. I even got an actual building to make into an official coop for them. I partitioned about 1/3 of it off to put their supplies in it. We've cut a hole in the back toward the east end of the building but I don't have any nesting boxes or any place for them to roost yet.

We put feed and water in the pen but during the day the chickens are allowed free roam of our land. Problem is they don't like to roost in the pen, they like my front porch, so we have to clean it frequently. LOL

Sylvia