when can I put my babies outside

[holedigger]

I have 5, 7 wk old chicks and was wondering when is it safe to put them outside permenantly? (in a tractor of course) I live in western north carolina and night temps have been getting down into the thirties.
thanks

 

[Chicken Woman]

I would't put them outside unless you are sure you can give them enough warmth.

 

[EweSheep]

Wait until they completely feathered out and once they are outside, put some deep litter bedding so they can cozy up when they do get too cold.

 

[sandhillchick]

When are chicks usually completely feathered out?

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

I put 5 of 8 six week old chicks out about 2 weeks ago. I keep a 125 watt heat lamp on in their coop at all times. 3 were not fully feathered yet so I kept them in the brooder for an extra week. Then put them out with the other chicks during the day and back in their brooder at night for a few days, and they are now all together all the time in their own chicken coop and yard seperate from the older hens. It is about 30-40 at night here now, and 40-50 during the day. They are all doing really well. I had to wait for the back feathers on the final 3 to grow in before putting them out.

 

[crazyhen]

Hi,
I am in western NC. Yup Its cold now. It was in the low 20's here last night. I will wait and put mine in a very insulated, warmed with a heat lamp at 8 weeks. Then I plan to gradually decrease the size of the bulb to just keep it above freezing. Lots of pine shavings too.
I have them inside and it never goes below 67. So the transition would be too hard on them all of a sudden. I think it will be better to transition them. jean

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

With regrds to my earlier post,
Im wondering about the size of bulb to keep in my chicken coop throughout the winter for my chicks. They are 8 weeks now, and i keep a 125 heat lamp on 24 hours a day inside their coop, which is also inside a barn, and they are able to go out when they want. They are doing great with the 125 bulb, but Im wondering how long i should leave it at that wattage.
Crazyhen, Im pretty sure our winters are colder than yours, but what wattage do you plan to decrease to? We average 15 at night in the dead of winter.

 

[The Monkey Mama]

I put my 3 week old chicks outside with a regular heat lamp in a brooder box and they've been fine - in fact I'm having to watch that it doesn't get too *hot* in the brooder box.

Our night temps are in the 30s now, but in the brooder box it is nice and toasty.

Kelly

 

[crazyhen]

This is my first year at this. I plan to put a thermometer in there and gradually decrease the wattage. AT first I want it to be at least 55 then I will lower the wattage by 5's until I get the temp down to 40 over a period of weeks. Then hold it there.
My reg. hens were doing well with just the house out of the wind and rain. They are brahma and loaded with feathers at 6 months. During this really cold spell, it will be 18 tonight and very windy I have a 125 wt. bulb in there to keep their water from freezing.
Because,this morning at 26 it was frozen in the coop. I only have two hens in there. They do not produce enough heat to keep them warm enough and produce enough heat to keep the water from freezing. I expect to keep one on most winter this year. Next year I will have enough hens to probably keep them warm without the light.
They are not laying yet so it really is not a problem for them I think. The light has a reflector on it that shines down away from the roost. Good Luck Jean

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

now I have a stupid question, but have to ask because ive wondered for so long, is a 40 watt house light bulb the same as a heat lamp, or is there a 40 watt heat lamp bulb that somehow emits more heat than a regular bulb?