weaning off heat

[vivarium]

^^^ THIS!!! Remember, chicks are BIRDS. if your local wild bird population can survive those temps, so can your chickens.

I agree in the context of having a mother hen around but they have nothing for natural heat! I live in a pretty cold place that has significant temperature extremes and chickens are a pretty broad group of birds having different temperature tolerances. Also, my local bird population has already begun migrating south since several weeks ago, with a handful of exceptions.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Also, my local bird population has already begun migrating south since several weeks ago, with a handful of exceptions.

Those exceptions are the ones we are talking about. If you have seen chickens fly you might understand they would not do well migrating south for the winter. When they evolved and well before they were domesticated they were able to manage without human intervention.

But you are specifically talking about 6-week-old chicks. Others are trying to change the topic. Some of us grew up with chicks being raised by broody hens or raised in brooders well before the internet. It is not that new to some of us.

I've had chicks a little younger than yours go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit (-4 C) with no heat. They need to be dry. They need to be out of the wind but they also need decent ventilation. I accomplish that by having ventilation up high so a breeze cannot hit their bodies. That allows moisture from their breathing, poop, and waterers to escape so the humidity isn't that high.

I also give them enough room in the brooder so I heat only one area and the rest can cool off. That way they acclimate to cooler temperatures while being able to go to the heat if they need it. If you have been feeding them a decent level of protein and other nutrients they were probably feathered out enough for colder temperatures by 4 weeks, almost certainly by 5 weeks. So yours probably have not needed the heat for over a week. I can't imagine you have not been feeding them well.

If you want to continue providing heat you can. As long as you don't start a fire it won't hurt them. At that age and those temperatures it should not hurt them if you lose power and the heat goes out.

 

[vivarium]

Those exceptions are the ones we are talking about. If you have seen chickens fly you might understand they would not do well migrating south for the winter. When they evolved and well before they were domesticated they were able to manage without human intervention.

But you are specifically talking about 6-week-old chicks. Others are trying to change the topic. Some of us grew up with chicks being raised by broody hens or raised in brooders well before the internet. It is not that new to some of us.

I've had chicks a little younger than yours go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit (-4 C) with no heat. They need to be dry. They need to be out of the wind but they also need decent ventilation. I accomplish that by having ventilation up high so a breeze cannot hit their bodies. That allows moisture from their breathing, poop, and waterers to escape so the humidity isn't that high.

I also give them enough room in the brooder so I heat only one area and the rest can cool off. That way they acclimate to cooler temperatures while being able to go to the heat if they need it. If you have been feeding them a decent level of protein and other nutrients they were probably feathered out enough for colder temperatures by 4 weeks, almost certainly by 5 weeks. So yours probably have not needed the heat for over a week. I can't imagine you have not been feeding them well.

If you want to continue providing heat you can. As long as you don't start a fire it won't hurt them. At that age and those temperatures it should not hurt them if you lose power and the heat goes out.

Thanks so much!! We turned off the heat at everyone’s suggestion, when the overnight temps were temporarily a bit higher than they had been.
That was last week (as of tomorrow) and now as of tonight, they are in their big kid coop with their new roosting space!!! They seem very happy!!

 

[McChooky]

What a cutie! I agree that they no longer need their heat. My oldest group was totally off the heat by 4 weeks.

My broody has 5 (4)week old chicks that free range during the day and when they get chilled she calls them to get under her .Sometimes she takes them to the coop for an hour or so. She still lets them get under her at night.They don't have all their feathers yet as you can see in the photo.They still have down in some places

 

[AnneGirlGG]

My broody has 5 (4)week old chicks that free range during the day and when they get chilled she calls them to get under her .Sometimes she takes them to the coop for an hour or so. She still lets them get under her at night.They don't have all their feathers yet as you can see in the photo.They still have down in some places

Yeah you definitely always want to let your chicks be the best indicator of whether they're ready or not. Cute baby!

 

[McChooky]

Yeah you definitely always want to let your chicks be the best indicator of whether they're ready or not. Cute baby!

Thanks! Once they feather out they're old enough to 'wean'. My broody hen has her chicks under the roosting bars (on the dropping board) By next week she'll have them roosting with the other chickens

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Thanks! Once they feather out they're old enough to 'wean'. My broody hen has her chicks under the roosting bars (on the dropping board) By next week she'll have them roosting with the other chickens

I'm looking forward to having a broody raise babies one day!

 

[McChooky]

I'm looking forward to having a broody raise babies one day!

You would think having roosters and broody hens would stop us buying so many from hatcheries and feed stores but we never have enough chickens and always buy more!

 

[AnneGirlGG]

You would think having roosters and broody hens would stop us buying so many from hatcheries and feed stores but we never have enough chickens and always buy more!

Haha right?! My friend/neighbor the other day told me she was going to sell some birds. She had some awful straight run luck a while back. She bought 7 SR RIRs, and all 7 were cockerels. And they turned out quite mean. They were attacking her every time she went in to fill bowls or clean up. She doesn't have the heart to process them, so she sold them to someone who will. She said it'll be nice to have that space freed up. She and I have a joint Meyer order that will be here this week.

Well, later THAT DAY, she sent me a picture of 5 guinea keets she bought at RK. So much for that free space.

 

[McChooky]

Haha right?! My friend/neighbor the other day told me she was going to sell some birds. She had some awful straight run luck a while back. She bought 7 SR RIRs, and all 7 were cockerels. And they turned out quite mean. They were attacking her every time she went in to fill bowls or clean up. She doesn't have the heart to process them, so she sold them to someone who will. She said it'll be nice to have that space freed up. She and I have a joint Meyer order that will be here this week.

Well, later THAT DAY, she sent me a picture of 5 guinea keets she bought at RK. So much for that free space.

Everytime I add more 'space' I justify getting more chickens.I will get rid of some if I have to in order to make more room.