Question

[Chris1984]

How long should i leave the heating light on for?

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

5 or 6 weeks.

Until they have all their feathers. You need to start at 95 degrees, then i a week, lower it to 90, then a week later, 85, then a week later, 80, then i think you stick there until they are either feathered, or the ambient temp is equal to what they need.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
The most quoted rule is to start at 90 degrees and decrease by 5 degrees each week.

However, i don't. I go strictly by the behavior of the chicks. If they are huddling under the light, they still need it. If they are avoiding the light, then they are fine without it - and actually too hot with it.

I live in Texas, so it might be different for you, but i don't think i have ever used a heat lamp past two weeks.

 

[hen-at-home]

Hi. This is my first time brooding chicks. I've read the 90 degrees/95 degree information and I tend to use that as a guide. I really go by how they behave around my heat source. I am using a ceramic 100 watt heat emitter rather than a light and I just watch to see whether they huddle directly under the heat or if they stay on the outer edge of the heat source. I have two sets of birds which are a week apart in hatch dates. One group of 4 are 2 weeks old and the other group of 4 are 1 week old so I can't go exactly by the weekly decrease in temperature rule. They seem to be doing well so far. I hope this information helps.

 

[okieglory]

3 weeks and imma bout to take em outside in the warm okie weather next week. we dont pay attention to the temperature of the heat, we have a heat lamp, and they don't even huddle under it anymore. we have raised 3 sets of babies and they always do great just pay attention to them.

 

[Chris1984]

so in another words its supposed to on 24/7?

 

[okieglory]

yes and if you do it anything like how I do, when they are 3 to 4 weeks old you can turn it off at night but that my opinion.

 

[Chris1984]

Quote:
I love what you said because that answered another questiom i was worrying about im expecting my next batch of rare breed chicks on tuesday and they would be a week apart from the other chicks its good to know that i could combine them

 

[hen-at-home]

We took our 2 week olds out for just a little while the other day when it was 80 degrees here! They all are so active during the day that I am only most concerned with the heat at night and that is when I check them. I do have heat on in the brooder 24/7. I really like the heat emitter as it doesn't put out any light and their brooder box is under a south facing window in my dining room (which is rarely used for dining) so they get sunlight/daylight and settle as the natural light fades. I do use the room light occasionally to extend the light time if I want to take them out in the evening. That particular room happens to have a dimmer light so I just dim it to night light level at night.

 

[Chris1984]

Quote:
wow i did'nt even know you can take them out at 2 weeks wich is great because i have a huge backyard and lately the weather has been warm over here and there about to be 2 weeks next sunday