Going outside.....

[Kassaundra]

Yes, I do want to hear your answer!s!!! I am getting ready to move the light today. So many have responded with basicly the same opinion. I will be glad to have the darn light off, especially since we have had to keep them in a corner in the living room. The little brooder (rubbermade type container) we used in the begining was swapped out for a chicken wire type cabinet/crate with front doors my hubby made when they were 2 weeks old. I do clean them often (and the house.....due to them), but I want to move the furniture back to normal! Just waiting for the rain to stop to finish the run and then we will be good to go. Thanks again.

I was just nervous about posting my answer sense everyone before me had posted such long times under lights and cautious exposure to outside. My first batch of chicks I was soooooo overyly cautious about everything and that it be done "by the book" (all the stuff I had read about dropping temps by 5 degrees per week for 5 weeks, only feeding medicated chick start, etc.....I even wouldn't pick them up for weeks to hold or look at them for fear they would "freeze to death" in my hands before I could get them back under the light) then I had a broody mom chicken and watched her w/ her chicks, that was eye opening for me.

 

[beeksnfeet]

yeah i did it backwords and top it off daughter had her heart surgery dureing my build time of the coop so it took for ever to build it. wish i built then bought oh well live and learn i guess.

Hope all is well with your daughter. Never fails, when it rains...it pours. Sure wish I had more room . . . . .I'd have a bigger coop, a bigger run...and more chickens. I love 'em!

 

[beeksnfeet]

I was just nervous about posting my answer sense everyone before me had posted such long times under lights and cautious exposure to outside.  My first batch of chicks I was soooooo overyly cautious about everything and that it be done "by the book" (all the stuff I had read about dropping temps by 5 degrees per week for 5 weeks, only feeding medicated chick start, etc.....I even wouldn't pick them up for weeks to hold or look at them for fear they would "freeze to death" in my hands before I could get them back under the light)  then I had a broody mom chicken and watched her w/ her chicks, that was eye opening for me.

How refreshing!!! I'm not the only one who thought they would freeze if I held them!!!LOL I honestly bought my hubby the 'Raising chickens for dummies' book (which, by the way, he did not read, but I did). I heard sooo many different ways to do things that it was mind blowing. I've held them everyday since we got them April 1st. And still do. I figured if they are 7 weeks old now, none are dead, & they run to me when I approach them, then I must be doing something right! They eat from my hand. The Buff Orps like to be held and petted, while the White Plymouth rocks are still alittle skiddish. Nice to know I'm do'in ok! Thanks again.

 

[rookiefarmers]

We have had our chicks in the coop with Mo light since they were 5.5 weeks. Nights are 34-42 degrees and they are amazingly happy and healthy. They are much tougher than people give them credit for.

 

[beeksnfeet]

We have had our chicks in the coop with Mo light since they were 5.5 weeks. Nights are 34-42 degrees and they are amazingly happy and healthy. They are much tougher than people give them credit for.

Glad to here that. That means mine will be ok too! It is chilly here this weekend, but changing next week so hopefully mine can get outside soon. I just shut the heat lamp off today, and they seem fine. They were kinda funny when I did tho. They actually walked over to it and kept looking up like "Where the heck did that go?"

 

[rookiefarmers]

Glad to here that. That means mine will be ok too! It is chilly here this weekend, but changing next week so hopefully mine can get outside soon. I just shut the heat lamp off today, and they seem fine. They were kinda funny when I did tho. They actually walked over to it and kept looking up like "Where the heck did that go?"

Ha! Mine were glad I think. They sleep so good when its dark. ours are happy as a clam each morning when we go out to let them out. They are learning to go in at night and they rush out first thing in the morning. The best part, NO fire risk and hubby gets his garage back.

 

[beeksnfeet]

Ha! Mine were glad I think. They sleep so good when its dark. ours are happy as a clam each morning when we go out to let them out. They are learning to go in at night and they rush out first thing in the morning. The best part, NO fire risk and hubby gets his garage back.

I agree with you 100%. Our little girls have been sleeping nearly all day with the light off. I think they are glad the light is gone too. I've been worried about that light being on for the last 7 weeks non stop......wonder if the electric bill will be less??????????LOL

 

[dewdropsinwv]

I live in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and it has been a pretty cold spring. We took our heat lamps down about 2 weeks ago maybe a little longer. It's going down to about 33 in a few nights, I guess what I'm asking is will it be ok not to have it in the coop. My hens are about 9 weeks old.

 

[beeksnfeet]

I live in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and it has been a pretty cold spring. We took our heat lamps down about 2 weeks ago maybe a little longer. It's going down to about 33 in a few nights, I guess what I'm asking is will it be ok not to have it in the coop. My hens are about 9 weeks old.

I'm fairly new at this, but I think if they are inclosed they should be fine. How old are they and how many?

 

[dewdropsinwv]

Beeksnfeet I have 12 hens, and they are around 9 weeks old maybe 10.