When can I turn off the heat-lamp in the henhouse?

[Annie44]

The babies are eight week old ameraucanas, they appear fully-feathered. Around here it get high 30's-low 40's at night, and 50's-60's during the day. The've been in the coop for almost two weeks now. I used to keep it on 24/7 but now I'm just keeping it on at night. Sometimes, if the temperature isn't going to get below 40 that night, I'll leave the light off at night.

Do you think I can leave the light off all the time now? Thanks!

 

[Percheron chick]

Turn it off.

My last group is the same age and have been out about 2 weeks as well. They did fine with 19* and a foot of snow last week without heat.

 

[donrae]

I agree. At 8 weeks they're feathered and if they were raised by a hen they'd be kicked out from under her by now. They may peep a lot the first night or two. This isn't because they're too cold and going to die, it's because something changed and they don't like change.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

So long as they are not wet or forced to roost in the wind they no longer need any supplemental heat.

 

[Annie44]

Turn it off.

My last group is the same age and have been out about 2 weeks as well. They did fine with 19* and a foot of snow last week without heat.

I agree. At 8 weeks they're feathered and if they were raised by a hen they'd be kicked out from under her by now. They may peep a lot the first night or two. This isn't because they're too cold and going to die, it's because something changed and they don't like change.

So long as they are not wet or forced to roost in the wind they no longer need any supplemental heat.

Okay, thank you everyone! Time to say goodbye to the heat lamp!