Chick brooder heat lamp question

[HappyPeepFarms]

It's been pretty hot latley so even if the outdoor temp reaches around the 90's I should still keep my heat lamp on?

 

[Robotmomma]

I was wondering same thing. My chicks are four weeks old. Temps are in sixties at night. Do they need the lamp now?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Start at 85 degrees and lower it by 5 degrees a week, 90 is too warm, depending on the age of your chicks and where they are kept they may need heat at night, certainly don't use the heat lamp during the day, 4 week old chicks can handle temperatures down to 70, that being said as the proper thing to do, my chicks get moved to the big bird pens at around 4-6 weeks depending on how feathered they are, this time of year at least, earlier in the spring is different. And do you have around 10 chicks that can pile to stay warm, or are you talking more where piling could become smothering.

 

[HappyPeepFarms]

Thank you! And ya we are only getting a few so they won't hurt each other. With our first chicks we moved them out about 5 weeks.