Done with the heat lamp?

[carladababe]

My chicks will be 6 weeks old this Wednesday, they are well feathered and healthy. Much to my husbands dismay they are still in our guest room until solidly warmer weather arrives. The room temp averages 72-76 degrees and I only have the heat lamp on during the night. When can I turn this light off permanently?

 

[jenni22776rn]

I stopped using it when mine were 6 weeks old...but look at the chicks...are they still sleeping under it or staying away from the light? Mine never slept under it anymore and would all sleep at the other end of the brooder...I think by 6 weeks using the 5 degree a week method, they should be good at room temp now. I know how you feel though..I have two 9 week BO that still come in at night...our temps get down to 20's in Maine....I am waiting for our spring to arrive..as I watch it snow right now!

 

[teach1rusl]

If they're in the house, I'd stop using the lamp NOW. I doubt your house temps. drop lower than 65 degrees at night time. If they're like mine, they'll squawk a bit and huddle together, more because they've never been in the dark before than because they're cold. So maybe make sure there's a nightlight near their brooder.
And depending on what you have available, I might consider moving their brooder into a garage (either with or without a lamp at night, depending on garage temps). The thing is, unless you're planning on waiting until outdoor temps are consistantly close to your house temps., you should be looking at ways you can get them use to cooler and cooler temps.

 

[dianaross77]

Mine are 5 weeks and in the house. I took their heat lamp away last week. They still had a compact florescent for light. It does put out a little bit of warmth but they never laid under it.

 

[NickyPick]

I started turning off the heat lamp during the day around 4 weeks. Never heard a peep of complaint. Then around 5+ weeks, I started turning it off at night. The first night, they peeped up a storm for about 10 minutes. I waited until I was sure it was just indignation about the loss of light, rather than they were cold, then left them. They'll be 6 weeks tomorrow and they're doing fine. The coop shoudl be done by Wednesday, I hope, and they'll be moving out there. They really need the room and it's around 70 at night outside.

 

[chicmom]

I'm glad you mentioned this too......I've got a pretty large brooder, with heat lamps at each end, and I think, since they're 3 weeks old, that I should turn one lamp off........Most are 90% feathered except one that I suspect is a rooster......

 

[chicmom]

Quote:
Your temps make me wish I was in Texas........Still chilly here in Ohio...with thunderstorms all week........Can't send the chicks outside yet......