Trying again...

[KikiLeigh02]

TSC never fails to surprise me...I think the biggest benefit with using red light is that if one of them has any bleeding the red light makes it harder for the other chicks to see so they won't peck at it.

I swapped bulbs. I am now running a 125W white light. They will still sleep, right? The guy at Tractor Supply said they wouldn't, but t he girl there also said if I didn't have a coop I could just tie a string to my chicken's leg and tie that to a stake, so...

 

[Unobtanium]

TSC never fails to surprise me...I think the biggest benefit with using red light is that if one of them has any bleeding the red light makes it harder for the other chicks to see so they won't peck at it.

I leave the lamp on 24/7, right? I mean, it's about heat...

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Yes, the light is for warmth.

I leave the lamp on 24/7, right? I mean, it's about heat...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes the light is for warmth and so it has to stay on until it's time to wean them off, but it does also means the chicks won't have a natural day/night cycle so they'll sleep as they get tired, instead of mostly at night.

It's probably more inconvenient for us as humans, especially if you're brooding inside the house, as that means the chicks can be awake and running about during the night. My first batch drove me nuts some nights and I resolved to not brood indoors again.

Once they're outside without a heat bulb they'll adjust to a day/night cycle.

 

[Unobtanium]

I keep them downstairs. Zero disruption. Will they be able to be off heat lamp and in my coop by day 16 of their lives?

 

[rosemarythyme]

That might depends on your temperatures outside and how stable they'll remain. My current chicks have been outside since 2 days old, with a heating pad... I'd like to try and wean them off heat at about 3 weeks but our temperatures have dropped this week due to rain so that might delay it a couple of days.

 

[Unobtanium]

That might depends on your temperatures outside and how stable they'll remain. My current chicks have been outside since 2 days old, with a heating pad... I'd like to try and wean them off heat at about 3 weeks but our temperatures have dropped this week due to rain so that might delay it a couple of days.

It gets down to mid to upper 60s, now. Probably 70s by then, during the night. Daytime 80s or 90s.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They should be fine then (especially during the day) if you acclimate them, reducing heat gradually to match whatever it's like outside as they get close to moving day. Maybe for night time you could build some sort of huddle box, if you think it'll be a little cool for them.

 

[Unobtanium]

They grow so fast. I'm near day 5 and already they are so much more robust. They may find themselves in the coop sooner rather than later. Its hovering in the 70s at night now.

 

[Unobtanium]

Sir PipPip is now 23 days old, along with his harem. They are doing great! Deer Run Farms has given me advice along the way. Excellent. I cannot recommend them enough!