I have 5 wk old chicks that have been outside for the last 2 wks. My husband just told me were suppose to be getting a cold front with temps in the low 60's. Should I put a heat lamp back on them? Or will they be fine?
The rule of thumb is to start the chicks at 95 degrees and for each week lower the temp by 5 degrees. So, by those calculations, your chicks can handle 75 degree temps. I would put the heat lamp out and observe their behavior. You probably only need it at night unless it's windy. If they huddle under the light they are cold and you need to adjust it closer. If they hide from it, it's too warm and they might not need it. If the meander under it like they are taking a walk in the park then they do need it and you've got it set correctly. I'm trying to remember when my chicks who were outside didn't need the heat lamp and for the life of me and can't remember how old they were for sure. I want to say 7 weeks, but, again, I'm not sure that is correct. Good luck!!
My Seramas are 6 weeks and they have been outside since 3-4 weeks (cant remember) and It's been in the 50s here.. I placed a heat lamp in their brooder and covered it with a large blanket an for the most part they only sleep under it, when they are awake they are up an moving around.
I'm in GA and we are having nights in the low 40's...my chicks are only 4 weeks old...but I have a 250w heat lamp on them out there...their little coop part is fairly open on one side with no door and they are going great...but yes they need that lamp...
At five weeks, I'd not be too quick to introduce heat. If the lows aren't below 60, they'll likely be just fine. You don't want to retard the growth of their feathering. The chicken adapts to cooler temps by "adjusting" its feathers. If I supplied any helping heat, it would be very, very low wattage. Winter is coming with far worse temps, so now is the time to get them used to cold weather. They will, if given a chance. Smothering or over-piling on is far less an issue with chicks that are now larger and stronger, at 5 weeks.
As long as they have lots of feathers they should be fine. Mine were about 4 weeks old when they went outside and it gets colder here in Wisconsin. If real concerned offer them heat at night but not really needed.
I'm also in Ga, and I just put my 5 1/2 week olds out on Thursday, only to find out the weather was gonna get cold (lower 40's last night!). So, what I did - first, I have 16 of them, and they are their own best friends for warding against cold. Second, i put their brooder box out with them open at the top, and filled it with hay. Third, the coop is open, but not really drafty. Finally, I went out just after dark to hand-toss (so to speak) them in their comfy hay nest, (they wanted to pile up in a corner). They looked just fine this morning when I checked on them, already out and about not looking particularly like they even noticed any cold! Sure, they might appreciate a heat lamp, especially if you don't have many to keep each other warm, but mine seem to have fared very well. Good luck!
Going to get even colder here in GA tonight. Last night it dropped to 41 and my ten 9 weeks olds were fine in the am...I did not put in a lamp.
