At what age do you turn off heat lamp?

[aatx]

My chicks are 3 weeks old now and are currently in an interior room that is not cooled. I moved the light up and down or turned it off for a few hours depending on their behavior previously, but I started to get concerned with the room getting too warm while I was gone to work now that they are older and our temps are heating up. So, I put my heat lamp on a timer. It is a reptile ceramic bulb, so no light going off and on to bother them. It comes on for 30 minutes and then goes off for 90 minutes. This cycle just keeps repeating. So far, it seems to be working out great.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

I have brooded my chicks with access to the outside since day one. As a result, my chicks weaned themselves off of the light by the time they were about two weeks old. I got my youngest chicks on May 5th and they are now running around with the rest of the flock now with no trouble. Up until the chicks abandoned the light, I gave them access to it whenever they wanted but they enjoyed exploring their "Brooding" run which was a 10 by 9 foot section of my run. Once they started escaping on a regular basis I released them into the rest of the pen. Chicks are more hardy than most people think.

 

[countrydream7]

I turn mine off as soon as they get fully feathered

 

[birdlady79]

I have brooded my chicks with access to the outside since day one.  As a result, my chicks weaned themselves off of the light by the time they were about two weeks old.  I got my youngest chicks on May 5th and they are now running around with the rest of the flock now with no trouble.   Up until the chicks abandoned the light, I gave them access to it whenever they wanted but they enjoyed exploring their "Brooding" run which was a 10 by 9 foot section of my run.  Once they started escaping on a regular basis I released them into the rest of the pen.  Chicks are more hardy than most people think.

I totally agree..... I did a experiment with this last chick I got.... I had a 4 wk old SS and I put a 1 wk old SLW with her in brooder... Then SS acted like her momma.. Our garage stayed around 80 during the day.. So I turned lamp off during the day.... And on at night for 2 weeks... Then I put them both outside .... She's 4 weeks and is fine..... She's a fiesty little thing... The SS use to lay on top of her or put her under her wing during the day to keep her warm.... So I agree that they are more resilient than people think....

 

[Fowlinthehollow]

This is my second timing raising chicks. I was NOT a fan of having them in the house. Therefore, with this group they went to the outside coop after a week in the house. It was a little tougher to regulate the temps out there (August in upstate NY). I think they adjusted okay and now are without the lamp entirely. I am a little worried for them now because the outside temps are dropping-We've been having the odd 60 degree day and a few nighttime lows of 40-45. I kept the light off to get them used to the 'warmer' weather, after all, it is going to get really cold sooner or later..

Any thoughts? Should I keep the light on overnight for a little while longer..?

 

[gritsar]

This is my second timing raising chicks. I was NOT a fan of having them in the house. Therefore, with this group they went to the outside coop after a week in the house. It was a little tougher to regulate the temps out there (August in upstate NY). I think they adjusted okay and now are without the lamp entirely. I am a little worried for them now because the outside temps are dropping-We've been having the odd 60 degree day and a few nighttime lows of 40-45. I kept the light off to get them used to the 'warmer' weather, after all, it is going to get really cold sooner or later..

Any thoughts? Should I keep the light on overnight for a little while longer.

Autumn has suddenly arrived here in Arkansas. I have chicks in the brooder section of a coop - which is at the back of a large coop - that range in age from four weeks old to six weeks old that have been off the heat lamp (100 watt bulb) since the youngest ones were three weeks old. I have been closing only one of the outside (solid) doors of the coop at night when temps. were getting as low as 67°F and they have done fine.
Nighttime temps. suddenly dropped to 50°F last night. I had made up my mind that they wouldn't get their light back, but changed my mind at the last minute, gave them their light back and closed the one solid door again. All the standard sized chicks did fine, but two of the chicks are 5 week old bantam cochins and while one did fine the other did not, even though they are next to the eldest at 5 weeks, 3 days old. They are now in the house and will be until the slower, weaker one gains size and stength.

You don't mention the age of your chicks, but I would say observe their behavior and do what your heart and mind tell you to do. If in doubt, give them the lamp.

 

[Fowlinthehollow]

Thanks Gritsar! My little chicks are 6 1/2 weeks old and fully feathered out.

 

[sarahandbray]

My chicks are 6 weeks today and they have been out in their permanent coop since 4 weeks. Brooded all 44 in 50sf of brooder space in the garage and they were going outside daily (in nice warm, dry weather when I was home) at one week old. By 4 weeks, the weather was hot enough that we could turn the light off and let them stay together in the coop. They are almost entirely fully feathered--"zippered up" in the chest area with only a few bits of down on their heads. They are loving life out in the coop, run & electrified poultry pasture we have set up for them. SO MUCH easier having them out there! I just fill the indoor and outdoor gallon waterers, the big stainless steel feeder, the grit, and open the coop door. I've been adding fresh wood chips every few days, Sweet PDZ, and Diatomaceous Earth. So far, we are smell-free, bug-free, and plenty warm here in upstate, NY! Thanking the weather for a warm & dry September!! These are some SPOILED chicks whose favorite roost lately seems to me my arm or my leg when I sit down in the pasture with them on my 5-gallon-bucket! I feel like a "real" farmer these days (and am getting teased MERCILESSLYby colleagues and friends! Oh well--it's good fun and it's not bothering anyone!)

Sarah

 

[sarahandbray]

(Weather + healthy/vaccinated chicks + tons of research on this website = HAPPY chickens!)

 

[Zephyr]

Just got my first chicks...so this thread was a BIG HELP as I worried about how long to use the heat lamp etc...had been told by a cousin thatd Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks would be good for a newbie, so got 2 of each. I 'think' they are about 2-3 weeks old, look to have some wing featers, but still lots of chick down too. Dummy me, didn't think to ask how old they were! LOL