how hot is to hot...

[shakecc]

I have 4 week old chicks that have been living in my air conditioned house with a heat lamp. One nicer days I have been putting on our shaded porch outside with their l lamp on. We have had mild weather,low to mid 80s. I put them out on the portch today (in the shade) it is probably about 90-92 here today. When I went out to check on them I noticed 2 of the 7 are panting. Should I leave them out there or bring them in. I know the heat lamp with keep them warm, but I also worry about the sudden change in temp of bringing them back in the air conditioning.

What should I do?

 

[pax12]

take the heat lamp off

 

[shakecc]

Sorry, I was not very clear...I don't have the heat lamp on them today since it was so warm. Only before on the cooler days.

 

[fullhouse]

I would leave them out in the shade, just make sure they have water. At 4 weeks they are pretty hardy.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Four week old chicks should be fully feathered, and most people put them outside full-time. They shouldn't need a heat lamp at all at this point. The qualifier would be, if you continue to keep them in an air conditioned house, i would keep the lamp on when they are in there, but up away from the top of the brooder, and allow a lot of room for them to get away from the heat.

Do you have a pen and coop ready for them outside? What breed are they?

 

[shakecc]

Our coop is almost done...a couple of finishing touches that we should get done tonight so they will most likely be going out tomorrow. I was planning on keep a heat lamp out there, but it sounds as though we may not need one?

There are
2 Buff Orbs
2 Light Brahmas
2 Barred Rocks
1 Black Sex Link

Thanks!

 

[LynneP]

Recently a member here said she put covered containers of ice with her overheated chicks and that some of them climbed aboard to cool down...seems like a good idea.