Moving chicks-Timeline

[RendonRoo]

i don't

 

[tdgill]

Quote:
going out to check on chickies

 

[haTHOR]

so at what temps/age can they be in the coop without a light? we have no power out there. there are just two, red sex-links. they are 5 weeks now. we are in nw arkansas near missouri, oklahoma, and kansas.

 

[NotTheMomma]

My current 5 wk olds were with a regular 75 watt light bulb in the house. For two weeks I had the light on 24/7. At that point I was taking them outside for 30 mins or more with just the sunlight. I had them in front of my bay window where they got lots of filtered light when inside. I started turning the light off during the day at about 3 weeks, maybe a bit sooner. They were doing great, no huddling together or showing signs of being cold. At night I did turn the light back on.

We moved them outside in their coop on Saturday. I left their huge dog crate that was their brooder in there with the light above the cage. At first I left the light on at all times, now I'm turning it off during the day because I've yet to see them sleeping or gathering in there! They are all fully feathered and sleeping on there nest boxes.

My 4 wk olds aren't as feathered out, so they are in the coop, in a wooden brooder with a 250 watt red heat lamp. They have plenty of room (2.5' x 6' brooder box) to regulate their own temp. I've noticed they enjoy laying under the warmth of the lamp, sun bathing, but not huddled up, etc. They run and fly around the whole brooder, but nap in the range of the lamp.

Sooo, lonng post to say, turn the light off and watch their behavior. They'll let you know by their actions if they want the lgiht back on!