Tips For Weaning Heat Source?

[bwebster]

Hello! I have 5 BR chicks doing great and getting huge very fast. My best guess is that they are about 5 weeks. Temps in the brooder now are between 72-75 and they spend their time in and out from under the heat lamp. It is still quite chilly here in NW Connecticut so I don't want to rush it but I'd like to know some peoples ideas/tactics for weaning the light source. Do I just turn it off for an hour or so here or there and then extend the time off? Henhouse and run are fully ready and waiting!

I attached a few pics to show how much they've feathered out and projected temps outside. One pullet is clearly a few days younger and holding up the line!

Any tips on transitioning to outside in colder temps is much appreciated as well! Thanks!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Where is the brooder? If its in your basement or garage, I would remove the heat lamp.
No electricity in the coop. Put them outside when temps reach 50 and bring in at night. That's what I did with my Barred Rocks when their coop wasn't ready till they were 8 weeks. I used a dog carrier to move them between the brooder and pen, and left the carrier in the pen during the day.

I used a heat lamp in the coop with my Golden Comets at night when temps got down to the 30s in May, at 5 weeks old. . . Make sure it's secure. I used a plug-in dimmer to control heat output. If you can't get one use a lower watt red bulb, or a ceramic reptile bulb.
This is the dimmer I use. It's rated for 300 watts. It's available at Wal-Mart and Amazon.

GC

 

[50-45-1]

I just keep reducing the wattage of bulb until i am using a 40 watt.
My chicks are outside at 2 weeks in their coop.
After they go to roost i start turning the light off after dark.
then remove the light all together once they know to go to roost on their own.
are your chicks outside yet?

 

[bwebster]

Brooder is in the basement, which is usually fairly cold compared to the house (old house). They have not been outside yet. We had a couple random 60ish days but they've been few and far between. I'm not a big fan of the idea of putting a lamp in the coop. I'm going to try to avoid that for any weather conditions if possible. (Fan for heat, light for cold etc)

I currently have a 250w brooder lamp that is basically at the ceiling and can't really go higher. I'll try just turning that off and see how they react, and put a 100w regular bulb closer if need be. There is a good amount of natural light from the basement windows for them if the light does stay off so they won't be hermits in the dark.

Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you still have heat on them, I'd start by swapping out the bulb for a lower watt bulb. Do that for about a week, then turn off the heat. They're already pretty feathered out and can deal with most moderate temperatures. Ideally pick a nice day to move them out (not for them, but more for you ).