I was told that my 6 1/2 week olds don't need the lamp anymore, so I took it out a few nights ago. We have had an extremely warm week here in Western Mass...70's day and 50's night. The weather is dropping to 30 tonight and will only be 50 tomorrow. It is 75 right now. Will the girls be warm enough?
Hi! Welcome to the kooky but wonderful world of chickens! We are new-bies as well, but I will let you know what I have been told. (there is a bunch of stuff on here as well which you have most likely read already, but it's nice to have a reply to your own request!) At 6 1/2 wks old, they should be OK. But, if you are a nervous nelly like I am, I still put out the red heat lamp for a night or two to get them transitioned when it turned cold quickly like it has. Have fun!
I'd say they'll be okay (as in they'll survive the night), but if they were my chicks, I'd be putting the lamp back out, at least a small wattage. I keep a variety of heat lamp bulbs handy, 75, 150, and 250 wattages. Just an idea for future reference...
I'm in the same situation myself on Long Island. I just put them out last Saturday at 6 weeks and have had perfect weather for their first week outside. But, tonight it's supposed to get cold...like 30 degrees colder, so I put out a 100 watt red flood light hanging from the ceiling of the coop. It'll help them sleep at night and it'll help me sleep at night. I figure I'll leave it on at nights only for the next week and being that the days are going down to the 50's, that will help them acclimate better for the colder weather to come.
They've been in the coop for 3 weeks already, and weren't using the lamp during the day. Being that the coop is in the barn and partially below ground, it won't be 30 degrees in the coop. There are 12 and they are pretty much fully feathered, so they can huddle a bit if needed. Thanks for the input, but after thinking it out all day, I think they'll be fine.
Hello from Granby! It is only supposed to get down to 42 tonight, and the 30's tomorrow night. Thats what I just read anyway. They will be fine.
same boat for me.. mine are a bit younger, about 5 weeks (i think) and mostly feathered. Weve had LOWS in the 70's and these next two days will be in the 30's..thats a 50 degree drop in 24 hours. Had them completley off any light bulb and now they are back on again..but just a low watt white to take the chill off
Supposed to get back down to 30's night here weekend.I grad. 12 about a week ago and they have been doing good so far.Half were in a nest box in hay tonight the others in corner in hay behind.As long as they are feathered out good and have a good warm fluffy place they should be fine.I got one week or so old cochin mix baby with silkie hen that hatched it and so far she is keeping it warm. Im still trying to figure what to do with these 4 AFLAC Baby Ducks they are about 2 + weeks old guess they will do fine.They still in brooder but growing like mad.And 2 more newbie AFlac's hatched last 2 days lol.I'll keep emmm warm though.
