I don't have a thermometer, so when can I take away heat lamp on brooder?

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I have two chicks that are just about 3 weeks old and one chick that's close to 4 weeks old. They're in a brooder box in my house with a heat lamp on them - it's off to the side and pretty high up so it's not super hot in the brooder box. I let the chicks go outside in a portable run every morning and every evening for an hour at a time (well 2 hours total).

So at what point can I turn off the red glowing heat lamp in my house?!? I know, I know.... I should have a thermometer, but I can't find it from 3 years ago when I last had chicks and we've gone 3 weeks without it so it seems silly to buy one now.

I'm tempted to just unplug it and see if they get icicles on their beaks.

Thoughts?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lil cheaps]

Hi, I usually take away the heat lamp when the chicks are fully feathered. But that also depends on where I have them and the surrounding temperature. I once kept chickens in our spare room were I found they did not need the heat lamp as long as the ones I had outside.

 

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I'm keeping them inside for now and we keep the A/C in our house at 80* so.... maybe I can remove the heat lamp?

If I put them outside the temps are in the mid 90s (with 'feels like temps close to 100) during the day and mid 70s (feels like in 80s) at night.

 

[lil cheaps]

At that age and temperature, I would say it is safe to remove the heat lamp. Each week you should drop the temp by 5 degrees. So at 3 to 4 weeks of age 80 degrees should be just fine for them.

 

[chickenbythesea]

just keep an eye on them... if they're clustered together and not roaming around then they're cold... if they're happily scratching and moving around then they're just fine.