Chicks (broilers) how long to keep under heat lamp?

[logansmommy7]

Since they grow faster....am receiving a shipment sometime this week and wondering.

Thanks!

 

[cassie]

Go to the Murray McMurray web site and read their instructions on starting baby poultry. It tells you how to manage the heat lamp.

 

[cassie]

I forgot to mention that although the meaties grow faster, they don't feather faster. In fact they tend to outgrow their ability to make feathers. They look real funny when that happens but the feathers do catch up.

 

[gritsar]

I received some cornish X culls from the commercial houses when they were approx. 3 weeks old. I put them in the brooder with my layer chicks of the same age; outside on our screened porch. We were experiencing a heat wave at the time - high 90s daytime, 70s at night. Since my layer chicks were already off their heat, I didn't add heat for the meaties, even though they were much less feathered out than my layer chicks. They did just fine. It did take them weeks longer, like until they were 10 weeks old, to completely feather out. Their metabolisms are faster and they are putting up their intake of protein into growing their bodies, not feather growth. On several occasions I did have to take a meatie and wet them down due to overheating. If you feel their bellies you can tell that they are super hot.

 

[dolly85]

I treated mine like any other chick. Give them a heat lamp with plenty of space to go under or away as needed. If they pile under the heat lamp they are too cold, if they spread out away from the heat lamp (they'll spread their wings out and pant) they are too warm. By 6-7 weeks depending on your weather you shouldn't need heat anymore.