proper temperature for 4-5 week old chicks

[Sparrowsong98]

More info???? How old are they, what is the temp in warm and cool end of the brooder? How many chicks, size and location of the brooder? What are you using for a brood bulb? If you are depending on the clamp (sounds like you are) then you are inviting a fire. You can decrease bulb wattage if you can't easily raise the lamp. Pic of your brooder/lamp set up, and more info needed.

Two four weeks olds, the temp on the warm end was around 80 and on the cool end it was room temp. Brooder is around 4 feet long and in a warm basement. I switched lamps (we have 3) and it moves around well and stays put when I stop seeing with it. I am using the brood bulbs from TSC. I did just take the light, and they seem fine.

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Sorry, having trouble using quotes on this forum, but this in response to a couple of posts on page 1 explaining about weaning chicks off supplemental heat. Sounds like we need to start doing that! I had no idea that providing too much heat will slow feather development and potentially reduce long-term cold hardiness. I read somewhere about the danger of chicks getting pneumonia from being chilled if they are not fully feathered on the back because their lungs are supposedly close to their back, so that's why we've been keeping them warm. We have been reducing the temperature in the brooder but it sounds like we've been doing it slower than we should have been.

We'll move them to the sun room and gradually raise the lamp until they no longer need it. We'll also let them spend more time outside. Our coop won't be ready until at least a week from now, more likely a couple of weeks. That should give us enough time to acclimate the chicks to colder weather so that by the time they go in the coop they will only need the lamp at night.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry, having trouble using quotes on this forum, but this in response to a couple of posts on page 1 explaining about weaning chicks off supplemental heat. Sounds like we need to start doing that! I had no idea that providing too much heat will slow feather development and potentially reduce long-term cold hardiness. I read somewhere about the danger of chicks getting pneumonia from being chilled if they are not fully feathered on the back because their lungs are supposedly close to their back, so that's why we've been keeping them warm. We have been reducing the temperature in the brooder but it sounds like we've been doing it slower than we should have been.

We'll move them to the sun room and gradually raise the lamp until they no longer need it. We'll also let them spend more time outside. Our coop won't be ready until at least a week from now, more likely a couple of weeks. That should give us enough time to acclimate the chicks to colder weather so that by the time they go in the coop they will only need the lamp at night.

 

[lazy gardener]

Two four weeks olds, the temp on the warm end was around 80 and on the cool end it was room temp. Brooder is around 4 feet long and in a warm basement. I switched lamps (we have 3) and it moves around well and stays put when I stop seeing with it. I am using the brood bulbs from TSC. I did just take the light, and they seem fine.

They should have been weaned off heat at 3 weeks if the temp in your basement is comfortable for you

Sorry, having trouble using quotes on this forum, but this in response to a couple of posts on page 1 explaining about weaning chicks off supplemental heat. Sounds like we need to start doing that! I had no idea that providing too much heat will slow feather development and potentially reduce long-term cold hardiness. I read somewhere about the danger of chicks getting pneumonia from being chilled if they are not fully feathered on the back because their lungs are supposedly close to their back, so that's why we've been keeping them warm. We have been reducing the temperature in the brooder but it sounds like we've been doing it slower than we should have been.

We'll move them to the sun room and gradually raise the lamp until they no longer need it. We'll also let them spend more time outside. Our coop won't be ready until at least a week from now, more likely a couple of weeks. That should give us enough time to acclimate the chicks to colder weather so that by the time they go in the coop they will only need the lamp at night.

Never heard such a statement re: pneumonia. I would like to see the person who made that statement back it up with some science. You will run across a lot of "someone said, so it must be true" statements on BYC. Many are simply myths that if repeated often enough take on a life of their own.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I watch my babies behavior to see if they need the heat lamp.

If the heat lamp is on, are they huddled under it trying to be warm? Or are they on the far side of the brooder to get away from it?

I raise the babies in the sunroom. The temps vary quite a bit during the day.

I have 2 weeks to 4 weeks in there right now....and no heat lamp. Windows open at night.

I also keep a thermometer in there, so I can tell the high and the low temps for the day.

But again, I mostly go by their behavior - do they look/act cold? (I have no a/c to chill the air.)

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Chicks raised with heat lamps should be weaned off heat by 3 weeks of age if kept in the house. By 4 - 5 weeks of age, they should be weaned to outdoor temps, and should be just fine moved into a coop and secure run at that time. It requires proper adjustment of their temp as they mature. My chicks are brooded outside with a heating pad cave, and wean themselves off heat by 4 - 5 weeks of age with night time temps going down into low 40's high 30's.

So I can eliminate my ceramic heat lamp! Yeah!
I had the chicks inside first days in living room in tub with a 250watt red light. Then I moved them into a foyer with a ceramic light
Then to garage with large run and ceramic light. They were flying out of coop. Perching on the 3 foot box edge.
Now at 5 weeks they are flying a bit. Into outdoor coop with heat lamp at night.
Gonna peak inside and see if they are under it or away.
It was 60s in coop.
Low 50s at night
High 70s day
So I can eliminate lamp?
I thought I had to wait til 8 weeks
Dominque and Red New Hampshire chicks age 5 weeks