Is it time to remove Brooder plate?

[Echo2023]

My 5 week old chicks going to bed tonight. It looks like they have weened themselves from the brooder plate. Although, I will say I catch one or two under there occasionally. Should I keep it in brooder box or remove it?

 

[DobieLover]

My 5 week old chicks going to bed tonight. It looks like they have weened themselves from the brooder plate. Although, I will say I catch one or two under there occasionally. Should I keep it in brooder box or remove it?

Get it out. They are almost fully feathered and don't need it any longer. They will huddle together to stay warm if they need to.
If you don't have adult chickens you should move them out to the coop.

 

[Echo2023]

Get it out. They are almost fully feathered and don't need it any longer. They will huddle together to stay warm if they need to.
If you don't have adult chickens you should move them out to the coop.

I don't have adult chickens. These babies are my first. That's what I was thinking too. Thank you. Here in CT the nights are still in 30's and I don't want to put brooder plate in coop. Our Run attachment still needs to be put together. This weekend, while I am home my thought was to put them coop to introduce them to it, and then bring them in for the night.

 

[bhaugh]

30 is kinda chilly for chicks. Sometimes they lay on top of each other and can smother the ones on the bottom. Can you keep them inside a bit longer and check to make they are fully feather in?

 

[JeffPr]

I’m in CT too and my 4 week old meat chicks have been out for a couple days now. They are doing fine.

I do have a heat lamp on at night though.

 

[jreardon1918]

We are in SE Mass. Close to Gillette Stadium. We brood in the run. The chick doors were cut Monday. Our chicks are about 5 weeks old. They have been in the run for just over 4 weeks. We use the MHP. It is currently on the lowest setting. They have survived/thrived in temps down as low as 22F at night. It is currently 47F. These pictures are from today. They don't sleep under it anymore. They ocaisionally sit on top of it. The MHP will be removed this weekend.

So, I think in your area it is time to get them to the great outdoors. YMMV

 

[Echo2023]

30 is kinda chilly for chicks. Sometimes they lay on top of each other and can smother the ones on the bottom. Can you keep them inside a bit longer and check to make they are fully feather in?

I certainly can. Especially at night. Thank you.

 

[Echo2023]

We are in SE Mass. Close to Gillette Stadium. We brood in the run. The chick doors were cut Monday. Our chicks are about 5 weeks old. They have been in the run for just over 4 weeks. We use the MHP. It is currently on the lowest setting. They have survived/thrived in temps down as low as 22F at night. It is currently 47F. These pictures are from today. They don't sleep under it anymore. They ocaisionally sit on top of it. The MHP will be removed this weekend.

So, I think in your area it is time to get them to the great outdoors. YMMV

Thank you jreardon. Just finishing up our run, and some final touches on coop, and we should be there by next week. Great photos, thank you for sharing.