I am new to raising chickens. Looking for a little advice. I have built my new friends a nice coop. O they are 5 weeks old and they are buff orp. They stay in it here in the garage. Temps go up and down there 40-80 degrees. I have a 250w heat lamp in there and they stay everywhere in the coop at night. Some here some there. A few just love the heat lamp some dont. I have it about 3 feet off the floor of the coop. The coop is not insulated but sealed good. My problem is I've had a situation I need my garage. My coop is on runners. I can move it to some point. Like a snowmobile ski. I can provide them more heat if needed. But its been cold here in south west Pa 0 degrees tonight. . .
Welcome to BYC By the time they are fully feathered they will not need the heat so much anymore, so I think you should start weaning them off it slowly. Turn the lamp off during the warmest part of the day for starters.
Yes, sounds like they are still babies. Babies can't yet regulate their internal temps well yet, so you need to give them time to adjust. Since they are so young yet, and your temps are still very cold out, you will still need to use heat at nights and on cold days for a few weeks. Generally 6 week olds don't need heat in cool weather, but zero is cold for even adults. So keep the night time heat going and even during the day for another week. Whey they are 6 weeks old, turn the heat off during the day only and leave it on at night, but not as close or as warm as you have been. Each week lower the heat at night a bit more until they become acclimated. As they age, their bodies will learn to work their internal furnaces. Good luck with your babies and enjoy BYC!
