How old do chicks have to be to be without heat?

[Alex's Chickies]

Hi,
I currently have 24 chicks that are around eight weeks still under a heat lamp. The have managed to figure out how to get out of their pen and are now hanging out in my bathroom. Can I put them out in the coop yet? I don't have any other chickens just a lonely goose. I have a small enclousure in the coop itself, that I could put them in with a heat lamp, could this work? I'm a bit new to this who chick thing and just want to make sure they are happy and healthy little guys. Their breeds range from Americanas to frizzle bamtums and Rhode Island Reds. Any advice would be great, Alex

 

[Fred's Hens]

Eight weeks? Still using heat? Whatever for?

Seriously, way past time to put the heat lamp away until the next time.

And.... way past time to have a more normal life than cooped up in your bath, as well. Time to go outside!!!!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Where are you located?
They can definitely go out into the coop if they are the only chickens you have.
At about 6 weeks or so they should be at a temp. of about 70 degrees, so a heat lamp really shouldn't be needed for them anymore except for at night maybe, depending on where you live.
You can check out Tractor Supply's website for some more info.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/conten.../livestock_care_raising_poultry_expert_advice

 

[bufforphfan]

I would say a lot has to do with your geographical location and the outside temperatures. Also, if they have a good start on feathering out and have lost most of their down! If the nighttime temperatures are fairly mild where you are, I would think a small enclosure inside your coop in which they can huddle togeather for warmth may be OK, especially if they also have a heat lamp available.
If they get too warm they will move around, and if they get cold they will huddle togeather. Just keep a close eye on them when you first put them out of their brooder. However, like the old saying goes " nothing is sure, but death and taxes". Good luck!

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Alex's Chickies :

Hi,
I currently have 24 chicks that are around eight weeks still under a heat lamp. The have managed to figure out how to get out of their pen and are now hanging out in my bathroom. Can I put them out in the coop yet? I don't have any other chickens just a lonely goose. I have a small enclousure in the coop itself, that I could put them in with a heat lamp, could this work? I'm a bit new to this who chick thing and just want to make sure they are happy and healthy little guys. Their breeds range from Americanas to frizzle bamtums and Rhode Island Reds. Any advice would be great, Alex

Those are some spoiled chicks

 

[Judy]

Just be careful of too much of a sudden change. You don't say where you are. Putting them out in subzero temps at night after this long in what has become an overheated environment could be -- not so good. You may have to acclimate them more gradually than that.

 

[CorgiHouse]

My 6 week olds have been outdoors in the barn since they were two weeks old! They went to a brooder with a heat lamp at that age, but have had no heat at all for the last week. The temps are 40-50 during the day and 30's to 40's at night since they've been outside.

I do think it's harder on them to move from a very warm environment to outdoors with no light if they are not acclimated - even if fully feathered and 8 weeks old. So you might give them a heat lamp outdoors at night at first.

 

[ravenseye57]

I'm in sort of the same quandry with two 7 wk olds. I just moved them out to the shed today in their own little pen with a heat lamp for night and a 100 watt bulb for day. It can get quite cold here at this time of year, av probably 40's day and 30's night. It's also my first time trying to integrate youngsters into my flock of 20 almost one yr old hens and a rooster. I've been putting them in the yard in a small run on nice days for an hour or so, and the big chickens seem curious to indifferent and I don't see any hostility. Should I mix them with the flock once it warms a bit and they finish feathering out, or try to come up with some way to keep them separate? I also have a hen with 11 chicks in their own pen in the shed with a heat lamp. I've heard that once they're two weeks old they could go back with the flock and mama will protect them and keep them warm enough. Any opinions?

 

[duckking]

I've been told not to try integrating my chicks into the flock until they are at least 12 weeks old - some have even said 15 weeks. That way they are as big as the established hens and able to fend for themselves when pecking order issues arise, which they will!. Once they are old enough to go outside and the weather warms, I'm planning on having them in their own coop and run right next door to the big girls so they can see and interact, but not have any real physical contact until they have reached 12-15 weeks. I'm a so hoping they will all get along eventually!!!

 

[CowgirlPenny]

I put mine outside the day they turned 4 weeks old, no heat. Its gotten down to 33 a few nights. They are warm and toasty snuggled in the morning. My EE's are about to go out next week. They are 3wks today.