Lights for 7 week old chickens

[seattlechic23]

My partner and I have been arguing about whether or not to keep the light on for our 7 week old chickens. They have been outside in their new coop for about 2 weeks and we have kept the light on out there since we moved them outside. We live in Seattle and summer has not started yet- today it's about 50 and raining. The coop temp doesn't get above 70 degrees even with the light on during the day.

Should we continue to leave the light on for them for extra warmth or are they old enough that we can leave them with no extra warmth?

thanks for any help! These are our first chickens so we are pretty protective of them. Jessica

 

[morelcabin]

I took the light off my 4 week olds three or four days ago now. ( I have some 2 and 3 week olds in there too, but they snuggle up to sleep with the bigger ones) Everyone is fine. The temps are still quite low here as well, lots of rain.

 

[Jolyn]

I think they would be just fine without the light. Mine went out in there coop about five and six weeks and I turned the light off not too long after they were out there.

 

[dixygirl]

Well what about if you are getting chicks in the summer. Do you still need a heat lamp in the heat of summer ?

 

[CarlaRiggs]

If one of you feels more comfortable leaving the light on for another week or so, then that's what y'all should do.

As long as the girls can get away from the heat if they want to do so, of course.

As for leaving the light on during a hot period, then no.... hens already have a hard time dealing with heat once they are fully feathered.

Carla Riggs
Pasadena Ca

 

[balticbabe]

I'm wondering about this also. At what age can chicks deal with the weather? I see photos of chickens in the snow. Are these chickens models who run back inside a warm coop after the photo is taken? Or at a certain age can the girls deal with what nature hands them?

Right now it's 52 outside with an expected low of 40. I feel the heat lamp is a fire danger so I want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Maybe I should knit them sweaters.