Done with the heat lamp?

[happymorrows]

My little girls are only a week old, so they still have some time under the heat lamp and in the brooder. I want to move them to the coop soon so they have more room, maybe when they are two weeks old. Is that too early? I worry about them not finding the heat lamp in the big 8x10 coop. I can run a cord out to it for the heat lamp, but when will they not need that extra heat anymore? I live in NC.

Here is a picture of the coop (almost done )

And one of some of the ladies on grass for the first time just because I am a proud mama:

 

[blueskylen]

Hi, at 2 weeks they still need it to be about 85 degrees, 80 at 3 weeks, 75 at 4weeks, until feathered out. they'll find the heat - drawn like magnets.
i put my meaties out Saturday at just about 3 weeks with 2 heat lamps at night as it is about 45 degrees at night in WV. they are doing fine.

 

[fastpat]

Quote:
Based on my research (and not experience) to ere on the side of caution, I'd keep them in the brooder until they're at least six weeks old, eight if you can stand it. You want them to be acclimated to room temperature or 70ºF before they're in the coop. We're having very warm nights, but will see dips into the 40's for another two weeks with a possible light freeze too. At the six week point I'd think they could take the temps as long as you have the heat lamp going at any time the temp is below 65-70ºF, or on all the time for the rest of April.

Here is a picture of the coop (almost done )

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/23714_img_3565.jpg

Very nice coop, I need to start mine soon.​

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know exactly where you re in North Carolina, but I'd think you still have a danger of frost for another week or two. In any case, your night time lows will get pretty cold. Two weeks is definitely too early to let them out without heat.

There are a couple of ways to determine when they are ready to go without heat. If you start off at 90 to 95 degrees and drop the temperature by 5 degree a week, when the temperature meets your night time lows, they are good to go. This is a very safe conservative way to do it. In your case, I think it is over the top, but it is very safe.

The other way is "when they are fully feathered out". I don't know what fully feathered out means which makes it harder. Mine looked fully feathered out at 4 weeks, but maybe they were not really.

The way I did it, I kept them in their brooder in the coop until they were 4 weeks old, then let them in a very draft-proof at ground level coop for a few more weeks. This was in the middle of June, not April, so that made a difference. I also had 28 so they could huddle together at night for extra warmth. All mine lived so it did work.

Good luck!!

 

[happymorrows]

Thanks for the info! I think I will let them in the coop in another week or two, but put them in the brooder in the coop during the night to keep out drafts and whatnot. They have done fine outside in the brooder during the day without a heat source (other than the sun) since it has been warm the last few days. I just don't want them to feel cramped and I want them to get sunshine and exercise!

 

[lemurchaser]

Mine go outside at 2 weeks with a heat lamp and have access to a run. My only concern is your coop is not fully surrounded to keep out drafts. That will be great in the summer but tough on them in the winter. I have a fully enclosed wooden dog house with a run attached. The dog house is draft free, and usually 20 degrees warmer than the outside, and right under it is very warm (100 deg). The chicks do great, even when the temp drops below freezing. I take away the heat lamp when they are fully feathered 6 weeks or so, I start by turning it off during the day, and then only turning it on later and later into the night, until I just don't turn it on.

 

[happymorrows]

I have plans for the winter insulation. There will be drop down shades made of outdoor fabric to keep out drafts, and for some additional shade as it gets really hot here in the summer. Our winters are pretty mild (well this last one was a doozy, but for the most part they are mild). And they will be grown by the winter and all feathered in.