If warm outside, no heat lamp at month old

[Frazzled chicken tender]

I have 3 four week old chicks that I am about to transfer to a tent in garage from their small brooder. At night I plan to put heat lamp on, but do they need it if the outside temp is above 80 degrees? And probably warmer in garage. Thank you for any info.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Nope, no need for heat! How warm is it at night? You might not even need heat through the night either...

 

[Paz]

I don’t think you do

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

Nope, no need for heat! How warm is it at night? You might not even need heat through the night either...

Good to know, thank you! It has been in the upper 60’s or 70 at night lately. I thought since they will be in a garage at night in the tent, I would put the heat lamp toward the opening but from a distance.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Good to know, thank you! It has been in the upper 60’s or 70 at night lately. I thought since they will be in a garage at night in the tent, I would put the heat lamp toward the opening but from a distance.

I don't think they need heat at this point. I think it would be safer to take the heat lamp away, since now it is just an unnecessary fire hazard.

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are 4 weeks old.

A low of 80 F (27 C) - Absolutely no need for supplemental heat.

A low of 60 F (16 C) - Really doubtful any heat is needed, but as long as you can safely attach the heat source it will do no harm. If they need it then it is available.

 

[Frazzled chicken tender]

They are 4 weeks old.

A low of 80 F (27 C) - Absolutely no need for supplemental heat.

A low of 60 F (16 C) - Really doubtful any heat is needed, but as long as you can safely attach the heat source it will do no harm. If they need it then it is available.

Thank you! They are outside now in a make shift cage so they have fresh air and more room to explore during the day. They seem fine with no additional heat during daytime. At night, I’ll make sure the heat is far enough away. Actually might also get a lower wattage bulb.

 

[SamLockwood]

I don't use heat lamps anywhere near any flammable bedding. I've had a couple times I've had the things get moved by bonehead people and nearly set stuff on fire.

I transition by birds to the outdoor brooder (really just a smaller coop) at 2 to 3 weeks of age. If the nights are cooler (like around 60 degrees F or less) I'll put a heat-plate out with them on the lower of the two settings at one end if they feel they need it.

Yours are only a couple weeks from being fully-feathered anyway, so unless it's particularly chilly where you are I might not worry about it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At 3 weeks and 60F at night they shouldn't need heat at night at all, but if it makes you feel better to give them the option then yes I'd switch to a lower wattage bulb and move it further away.

 

[C Siena]

Thank you! They are outside now in a make shift cage so they have fresh air and more room to explore during the day. They seem fine with no additional heat during daytime. At night, I’ll make sure the heat is far enough away. Actually might also get a lower wattage bulb.

We put ours in a cage, in the coop, with plenty of straw, at 4 wks 2 days. It was 54/55 the first night and all was well in the morning.
I'll say that after 2 ish weeks, we did not have the temp in the brooder as high as recommend. By 4 weeks, it was 67 with none using the MHP around 3ish weeks.
Tonight will be about 41/42 and I'm going to put extra straw in the cage, making sure everything is dry. They are just shy of 6 weeks and 15 chicks so feathered and some body heat.