Wean from heat source???

[PorterPack]

New chicken momma here, so I greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions!
Here's my current set up- I have 4 5 week old chicks. I currently have them in a large dog crate (in my house)with a heat lamp pointed at one corner. I've been reducing the temp every week, and right now it's about 75 degrees directly under the lamp. The chicks are almost fully feathered. Once I move them to the coop I don't plan on putting any supplemental heat out there. So here's my question- once I know they are fully feathered and it's a bit warmer outside (I'm in Ohio, so nights are still in the 30s, daytime highs in the 60s) will it be OK to take them from being inside a home to outside? Should I be turning off their heat lamp during the day to wean them? I'm open to any and all suggestions....thanks for your time!!

 

[lazy gardener]

At this time, unless it's really cold in your house, they should be just fine without a heat lamp. Have you been taking them outdoors during the day? Have you been turning the lamp off some during the day? You can start by doing those things. Then, get them acclimated to sleeping without the heat lamp. Then you can put them outside in the coop during the day for a few days, and bring them back in at night, if that helps them, and YOU to progress to full time in the coop. By the time you've done all of this, they will be 6 weeks old. You need to harden them off to outside temps, similar to hardening off your garden plants.

 

[PorterPack]

Thanks for your help! I have been turning the lamp off a couple hours during the day, but I still haven't taken them outside. It's been fairly windy here the past few days and I wasn't sure how they would do. However the next couple days it's supposed to be in the high 50s, so I suppose they'd be OK outside for a little while. Thanks again!

 

[csaylorchickens]

I have the ecoglow warmer and they barely use it now durning the day. The knly use heat at night when it's colder and they have been outside in the coop at 4 weeks of age. They were growin fat and outgrew the dog crate in the garage so fast! But one week in try are doing fine. I would take them outside for a few hours and get them used to being outside. Maybe let them run around in the run or coop durnin the day as being inside at night. Then eventually you can just leave them in the coop and maybe provide a heat lamp for part of the coop incase they need it or get a heat plate

 

[csaylorchickens]

And like many had said before, the chicks are tougher than we think and can handle it!