heat lamp for cornish cross in summer?

[callisto]

We have 4 laying hens that have gone broody. Two are already raising chicks. We want to get some cornish cross chicks, to butcher at the same time as some of the new chicks. Our brooder is now outside, with hens instead of a heat lamp. The days here have been in the 80s and 90s. The nights in the 70s and 80s, with an occasional cooling from rain that makes it into the 60s.
What is a reasonable timeline for a heat lamp? My only other time using one was for the chicks I got in November, and they were kept in the barn. We would like to keep these chicks outside in a brooder with the bottom open to the grass.
Thanks,
Diane

 

[Chick Charm]

I have brooded without a heat lamp in the summer with success. You must watch them during week one in a hot climate. After that 1st week they take to bring pretty active. With a broody hen to watch over them you can rest easy. Just make sure mama hen stays with them at night. Still no drafts are in order.

Wish ya the best.

 

[Chick Charm]

I brooded them in this Meaties tractor.

 

[callisto]

Thank you very much! Letting the broodies do it is much easier than me taking care of them in the middle of winter. Just wasn't sure about the heat.

 

[LindaB220]

We have 4 laying hens that have gone broody. Two are already raising chicks. We want to get some cornish cross chicks, to butcher at the same time as some of the new chicks. Our brooder is now outside, with hens instead of a heat lamp. The days here have been in the 80s and 90s. The nights in the 70s and 80s, with an occasional cooling from rain that makes it into the 60s.
What is a reasonable timeline for a heat lamp? My only other time using one was for the chicks I got in November, and they were kept in the barn. We would like to keep these chicks outside in a brooder with the bottom open to the grass.
Thanks,
Diane

Glad to have you. Am I wrong? I thought that you meant to put the CX's by themselves. You aren't going to need the light past the first week or so. Then put into the tractor. They will cuddle and feather out quickly.

 

[callisto]

I do want to put them by themselves. Now I have another broody sitting on some fake eggs, so I thought I could use her if I needed to. My brooder was in my barn for my first chicks. It was so cold for so long, I am surprised I didn't burn out the bulb. It's outside now, in a pasture, and I need to find a safe way to plug in the heat lamp. I am glad it would be just for a week. That makes it easier. I can move it around, so I may be able to set it up under the awning on the barn. We just bought our farm in Oct. I ordered chicks in Nov. and now they are having chicks. It's quite fun! We are using the old coop right now, but we will be building a new one later this year. Maybe a second one in another pasture for future meat chickens. Thank you again.