Do I need a heat lamp for my 3 week old chicks?

[Elflady]

Yes, you can pick up a heat lamp and bulb at your local farmers store. Also, I put an adjustable heat thermometer on my lamp an start it out at 95 degrees and drop it five degrees a week until you get to room temp. Hope this helps.

 

[danceswithronin]

I remove the lamp at three weeks unless the weather is cold, but every time I've raised chicks the upper temps have been in the low 80s and the lower temps have been in the high 50s, and I wait until they are mostly feathered out before I take it away.

 

[ajackalope]

I have a 3 week old chick in the house, she developed spraddle leg. The house is at 69-70 degrees and I have a heating pad "cave" that is up to 83 degrees. Should this be ok for a single chick.

 

[Dokdream]

I have been letting my chicks outside on nice days since they were a week old. By nice days, I mean sunny and 68 - 75. They are super happy and active and comfortable looking. They peck and forage just like older chickens. They could go to the light if they wanted, but avoid it completely when they have access to outdoors. They also could sit in the sun if they are cold, but they almost completely avoid sitting in the sun and prefer the shade of foliage. It makes me think this rigid temperature thing is hogwash. I mean, does a mother hen with chicks keep them under her wings 24 hours per day until 3 weeks to keep them at 90? I doubt it. They have access to heat lamp at night.

Do you have any trouble catching the chicks again when "recess" is over and time to go back into the brooder or "nursery" coop?