Too soon to remove heat lamp from coop?

[SusanD]

Hi,

My parents and I got our chicks the last week in February, so they are all at least 6 weeks. Except for my Langshan which still has some down around its throat, they are all fully feathered. The lows where I am (Eugene, OR) are around 37-45 degrees. I would love to take the water of their coop as I think it is making a not great (small, not very well ventilated coop) situation worse, but am afraid to as long as we have a heat lamp (250 red) on them at night and they have access to food.

Are they old enough to go without the heat lamp at night? If so, would it be helpful for me to give them a few nights with a 150 red lamp first or can they go cold turkey?

Also, is putting the food in the coop a good way to avoid attracting predators, or would it be better for me to bring it in a sealed container in our garage?

Thanks

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Too cold. I wouldn't let them without heat until it's regularly 50ish. Like, 45-50ish.

You can of course take it off and see if they need it. Just watch their reaction. But I'd say it's a bit too young.

 

[PapaChaz]

at 6 weeks they're pretty close to fully feathered, you should be able to take the heat lamp away from them now. Once fully feathered, they have all the natural insualtion mother nature is ever going to give them

 

[PapaChaz]

about the food, sorry I missed that part. Lot's of people leave food in the coop all the time. I'm one of them, my bin feeder is built between the studs in the wall of the coop. Are you closing the coop up at night? Is it tight? a mouse can get in a crack that's as small as 1/4", hard to believe but they can. But you're giving yourself a lot of extra work to take the feed in and out every day.``

 

[SusanD]

Thanks both of you for your replies. I think I will try to see how they react to a lower temperature during the evening when I can watch them, before I try turning the light off for the night.

Papa Chaz,
I answer to your question, I think our coop is pretty secure (although we do have one latch they I wouldn't put completely past a clever racoon and should probably be replaced), but not the run (too many spaces for something small like a weasel or snake to crawl through). I'm hoping we can avoid attracting any rats or mice for my parents' sake as well as for the chickens. I think my parents liked the idea of chickens more than the actual reality, and I'm not sure how they would cope with having to get rid of pests.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Nevermind, ignore what I said. They should be fine. Sometimes I get a bit coddly. I just put some turkeys outside.

Just be sure that they can handle the temp, and watch how they act. Otherwise, they should be fine.

 

[BobDBirdDog]

All good comments, but remember that the heat lamps purpose was to provide heat, and you are/were to condition them by changing the temp each week as to force them into adjustment to natural weather. It is not so much the age as it is the conditioning and adjustment to natural temp without providing the artificial heat, else they may still huddle as it sounds a little cool in your area.

 

[tash]

Once they get bigger they might find a mouse a nice treat in addition to the regular feed.

 

[SusanD]

Thanks for the replies. I will try dropping the heat gradually to condition them, as I think that will be less stressful for them and less worrying for me. And yes, I can understand coddling them

 

[stacey52783]

I tried taking the heat lamp away from my chicks at 7 weeks old and they huddle together and shiver outside at night. I don't m ow the outside temp but it seems to cold for my little bantams. See how they react!