Brooder Temperature Question

[chicksak]

Hi everyone!
Our 4 buffs are 5 weeks old and their brooder was upgraded last week to a more open style with chicken wire on the sides instead of all wood. We have the heat lamp in one corner so they can stay warm if need be or move to where there is no added heat. They only tend to go to the heated area if I am hanging around that corner but very rarely are they every hanging out under the warmth on their own. The room they are in is 70 degrees. Can I shut the heat lamp off during the day and maybe just put in on of the night time or do you think I should be able to take it out all together?
In our climate we are lucky to get to 70 degrees most of the summer so will have to start regulating them to cooler temperatures at some point and I can't get them outside yet as we are lucky to see 40 degrees during the day.

Thanks

 

[donrae]

At five weeks if they were inside a climate controlled home I'd do away with the heat lamp. If you really want to leave it on at night you could, as they might still be crowding under momma if they were hen raised. But I can guarantee you if they were hen raised they wouldn't be under that hen at all during the day, they'd be out at whatever the outside temp is.

 

[cafarmgirl]

They don't need the heat lamp at all at that age, especially being indoors.