Partridge Brahma Chicks & cold weather

[cowsr4eating]

We purchased some Partridge Brahma eggs last year and are hatching our own right now (love them!). We've noticed they don't feather out as quickly or evenly as other breeds we've had. It's still in the low 50's at night here and my 6 week old roosters still don't have any feathers on their backs. At what point can I put them outside in an unheated chicken coop? Thanks for any advice!

Cathy

 

[Happy Chooks]

Brahma's are a very slow maturing breed. You may be able to put them out before they are fully feathered. I had English Orps feather out that slowly and they were off heat before they were fully feathered - but the temperatures were mild. If the temps aren't getting below the 50's, you could start weaning them off the heat and see how they do. How many chicks do you have? If you have a good number of them, they can huddle for heat.

 

[cowsr4eating]

I only have 2 roosters and 3 hens. They are in my garage right now with a kerosene heater. I'd even be happy to put them out in my enclosed barn with light but the barn is not insulated. Thank you so much for your insight!

 

[SweetPromise]

When we brooded our Brahma's last year I moved them from their brooder (a large metal horse water trough) to the hen house (8x12 feet) when they were just a couple of weeks old. I can't remember how old they were exactly, but big enough that they were very competent on going under the heatlamp when needed and making a mess in their brooder. I hung the heatlamp at the same height in the henhouse and put their food and water close by. They did great. at first I had the lamp on 24/7, then just overnight. It was just like a huge brooder to them.
I would do the same for your chicks if I were you, just hang a heatlamp in the barn (if it is safe to do so) and they can get under it if they want. If you notice that they are never hanging out under the heatlamp, even at night, you can remove it.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I only have 2 roosters and 3 hens. They are in my garage right now with a kerosene heater. I'd even be happy to put them out in my enclosed barn with light but the barn is not insulated. Thank you so much for your insight!

I would keep them on heat a bit longer then. Not enough for them to really snuggle for warmth. You can start weaning them off by lowering the temperature on them though.

 

[cowsr4eating]

Thank you! I was afraid of that. My husband wanted to move them out to the barn tonight but I was worried about doing that. It is supposed to warm up some next week so we'll just wait and see.