Weaning off heat lamp

[Captain13]

Turn it off, walk away. They're complaining because it's "different" and chickens don't like change.

I’m using a heat plate but had been keeping lights on. We are keeping the brooder inside because the weather here has been changing from highs of 30 to highs of 80. Anyway, I turned off the brighter lights and left on an overhead nite light and the chicks lost their little minds. So I turned on one of the bright lights and they calmed right down. Last night, I loaded up their feeder and cut off the bright light and left on the night light and they were so busy eating that they didn’t notice. I will be moving them to the garage in about two weeks as it warms up and they will be in the big brooder with just a night light.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m using a heat plate but had been keeping lights on. We are keeping the brooder inside because the weather here has been changing from highs of 30 to highs of 80. Anyway, I turned off the brighter lights and left on an overhead nite light and the chicks lost their little minds. So I turned on one of the bright lights and they calmed right down. Last nigh, I loaded up their feeder and cut off the bright light and left on the night light and they were so busy eating that they didn’t notice. I will be moving them to the garage in about two weeks as it warms up and they will be in the big brooder with just a night light.

They really don't need a night light - it's personal preference, but I want my chicks acclimated to a true day/night cycle. Since your chicks are used to it they will fuss for sure if the lights are out, but as long as they're given the opportunity to get under the plate (dimming lights will trigger that) they will get used to not having the light.