Exact Brooder Temp vs. Behavoir of chicks

[FamFitz]

Before I got my chicks I read about the heat lamp and how it needed to be at 95ºF then lowered by 5º each week. This is what I planned to do. However, my 1st group of chicks I ended up getting has nearly a 2 week spread in ages. So I didn't really know what temperature I needed to have it at, not to mention I'm not too sure how accurate my thermometer is. So I've decided to change the lamp based on their behavior.

My chicks all seem to be fine at the level it is at now. They aren't huddled under the light or off to the side - they wonder around the whole brooder and they tend to sleep near each other, but not piled on top of each other and usually near the light but not directly under it. (If this doesn't sound normal, please let me know!)

My question is: If I keep them like this (changing it based on behavior), at what point/how will I know when I can I remove the lamp all together (I know it's not for a while - just wondering what to look out for)? I also heard that lowering the temp by 5º is most important before they get moved to their outside coop (their brooder is inside my house) so they can get use to what the outside temperature will be. I figured they will be going to their outside coop sometime between Mid May & Early June. The average temperatures here in WA during this time usually range from high 40's at night to low 70's during the day. Do I need to make sure they the temp is a set degree or what before I send them to their coop in 6-8 weeks?

Also, if it factors into your answer, my brooder is in a room with it's own heater built in. It has it's own thermostat, but it's only accurate to about 5-10º. It's currently set to about 65º.

 

[lazy gardener]

If the chicks seem content, they probably are. They will be noisy and piling up if they are cold. One thing I've done when combining different age groups is to angle the lamp a bit, so it's warmer where the light is more intense. A thermometer will help you to make those temp reductions. By 5 weeks they should be down to at least 70 degrees and you can turn the lamp off if they are in the house. When they are fully feathered, they can go out, but it's important that you give them time to adjust to chilly temps.

 

[gander007]

I always start off at 90 degrees bit to each their own

My rule is if the chicks are under the heat lamp then more heat

if they move away save energy and money and turn down the heat

Even day old chicks know what they want

 

[PrairieChickens]

It's much better to go by behavior than the temperature. As for when the chicks can go outside, if they don't have supplemental heat, wait until they have fully feathered out. My chicks have heat in their outdoor brooder, so they can go in and out at will and keep warm when they need to. Without that, they wouldn't be able to go outside for at least three more weeks.