how long for the heat lamp

[Urbanchickenranchers]

My chicks are a month old...how long do they need a heat lamp. Currently they are inside the house in the basement.

 

[Fred's Hens]

At four weeks, and this being summer in North America, the heat outside will take some time to adjust to.

They might need your electric meter spinning because of the cool basement temps, but if you'd move them to their coop, they'd be just fine. It's time to get them conditioned to the summer temperatures, which if anything, will be very warm. To answer your question directly, no lamp needed if they get moved to a warmer place than the basement.

 

[duniganb357]

I give my chickens heat lamps only when its cold.

 

[Delta2 23]

We took 'em off the lamp when they were maybe... a month and a half old. We raised the second batch in winter, in the summer it was less, they only needed the land for three or four weeks.

I'm say take the lamp away and see how they go, if they're cold, put it back on!

 

[madrona]

Baby chicks do beautifully in MUCH cooler environments than conventional wisdom suggests. We start ours off next to a hot water tank for the first few days, then put them there only at night. In the day, starting at 4 or 5 days, they're in an indoor pen in room temperature (about 70) with no heat, and at 7 days we put them outdoors during the day with no heat, as long as it's above 60 and not windy. We just moved our 17-day-olds to the outdoor pen, where they are bedded down in an insulated cardboard box on a thick layer of straw. They have a hot water bottle nearby and it's 57 degrees out and they're just fine.

We've handled chicks like this for years, and the only time I've ever lost a chick was when a mail-order one arrived half-dead. You can tell when chicks are comfortable because they spread out and run around in their pens, and their voices stay soft and contented.

The whole thing about keeping them at crazy hot temperatures under 24-hour lights is just bizarre. If you watch a mother hen with chicks in a cold spring day, you'll see the babies out and about when they're only a few days old. By the time they're a week or so old, they're only running to cuddle up to Mom now and then, and are out scratching around a lot of the rest of the time.

 

[Urbanchickenranchers]

thanks everyone! We have been periodically taking them outside to get them acclimated to their REAL environment. It sounds like its time to take the lamp away soon. I hope to be done with the coop in another week pending weather and materials!

Thanks again everyone...you have been most helpful!

 

[lorain's fids]

My girls are 2 weeks old today. They are currently residing in my wash room, which the thermometer says it's about 80 in there , so for the last 5 or so days I have not been using any heat lamp during the day, and they are doing fine. I can tell when they are cold, they get all huddled together. But it seems at night they like the lamp on, I'm guessing they don't like the dark or it could be they like to go to sleep when it's nice and toasty. I can't wait till I get next months electric bill-LOL!!! I have been bringing them out for a few hours a day and putting them in my old rabbit hutch. It has been HOT here in New Jersey so I have to be careful so they don't overheat. Another hot one here today so I had brought them out early.

Lorain

 

[BoltonChicken]

As long as the night time temps remain above 55 degrees no heat lamp is necessary.

 

[mconro]

We are at 14 weeks and in a cool northern MN. Ours still have their lamps at night