Removing Heat Lamp

[crazyfeathers]

They were 2 weeks old in the photo above. Any ideas what the yellow chick may be they are from Tractor Supply.

 

[GalloSiSupieras]

You can also lower the wattage, not just raise the lamp.

What a great & simple reminder! I'm also in Michigan and a little nervous about the temperatures, even with the chicks at 5 weeks. Don't know why I picked the coldest winter in years to go back to brooding a "litter" myself...

I may transition them with lower wattage for a week and then try a light in the grow out coop + one of those wireless thermometers, both for the first time. Does anyone know of a model that sets off an alarm if the temperature drops below a certain point? I'm a 10pm-5am sleeper, and can't much see the point of a gague I can read from indoors if I'm not awake to check it when things really get cold.

 

[Fred's Hens]

For those transitioning chicks to the outdoors.

1. Step them down. By week 5, they should not be needing day or night temps above 75.

2. Find a cool, but not freezing cold place to "harden them off" at 6 weeks. A super cold basement, root cellar or attached garage. You want them to experience some 50 degrees temps.

3. Then, at week 7, move them on out. By then it is likely late April or early May and even up here, our temps are milder, day and night. They'll be completely feathered out and protected by a full blown, down coat. They no longer need a stitch of supplemental heating. Momma hen would absolutely not be covering them anymore had they been broody raised. Not a chance. Nature knows best.

Chickens haven't survived for 5000+ years of domestication by being sissies. They are amazingly tough critters.

 

[GalloSiSupieras]

Thanks for the rundown! My chicks will be hitting the 7 week mark on April 3rd; do nights between 14-35°F sound alright for that age?

I've never used outdoor heating, but I also haven't done my own brooding in years, and not ever in the face of the temperatures we've been having lately.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It's all about step down acclimation. 7 weeks is plenty old enough for those temps, IF and this is the key, IF they have had a chance to get weaned off the hot lamps and had a week or two in step down temps. That's the whole point of this thread, I guess. Step down, step down, step down.

No plunging them from 75 to 25. That's too hard of a transition for anybody. Even me. LOL

 

[GalloSiSupieras]

That's really good to hear! Now I don't have to worry about adding gadgetry to the coop