Heat Lamp

[MountainChickenMama]

At what age can you remove heat lamp from baby chicks? They are all about 4 weeks old.

Thx

 

[Angiebubs]

rule thumb is start at 95 degrees and drp 5 degrees each week. so alot depends on the room or coop temp. also depends on how many you have..they can dog pile for extra heat

 

[MountainChickenMama]

They are in garage, I have 8 of them. Only the heads are not feathered ....

 

[10xmama]

Mine are the same age ... and I was wondering the same thing. I am in FL. It has been in the 80s during the day and 50-60s at night. I have had mine in the coop/run for about a week and a half and have the brooder light in the coop to use at night only. It is pretty high up from the coop floor .... like 5ft up... it does still warm up the coop some and provide the red light. It seems to be helping them know to come in from the run when it gets dark.

Tonight I tried to turn off the light but they all started crying out it seemed. It's almost like a brood of toddlers afraid of the dark. I turned the light back on and they quieted down. So I don't think mine are ready.

If the 5 degrees a week thing is correct -- then it looks like 6-7wks old we can turn it off at night for good. If your temps are close to what mine are here. In FL we really should only be going down to upper 60s or 70s at night by that point. If your somewhere colder, then you may need to keep your light on at night longer.

But honestly ... I'm a newbie so I am sure someone with better experience would be more helpful.

 

[Angiebubs]

i put my 5 wk olds out in brooder pen in the coop with heat lamp about 2 ft up its supposed to get down to freezng...running out for a final check now....

 

[bj taylor]

I find that my chicks actually seem to prefer warmer than required temp at night, almost as a comfort measure. they are definitely afraid of the dark & have to be weaned off the light itself. that's not so bad, because a night light helps you look in on them during the night. if they're sleeping close together I count it good. if they're piled as close as possible under the light, I count it too cool. if they're away from the light altogether - it's too hot.

 

[Mehjr10]

They should be good in the garage at this age, mine went out in the 30 - 40 nights at 4 wk with no lamp.

 

[Angiebubs]

they were wide awake and active....didnt look cold fluffed out and were back n forth under the light. think they are either entertaining or irritating the rest of the flock watching them from roosts lol