When do you ditch the heat lamp

[Sasham]

We live in northern ny and it is still getting pretty cold at night. My chicks are 8-9 weeks old, and fully feathered. We do not have them inside in the brooder anymore They have been outside in the coop since the week of Easter.We have been turning off the heat lamp during the day, but how cold Is too cold to turn it off at night?

 

[Sasham]

 

[iwiw60]

I've got the same question! I'll be watching your thread to see what everyone says...good luck!

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is spring. Chicks older than 6 weeks would no longer be provided body heat of a brooding hen. They'd be on their own. There's no need to provide night time heat at all. Unless, of course, you own stock in the electric company.

 

[Realtree4]

At that age, they will be fine without a heat lamp. Mine are 6 weeks old and I live in central ohio and it's still getting in the 30s at night sometimes. I have had the heat lamp off totally for a week now...granted they are STILL in the house (coop getting finished this weekend!), but they are in a separate room that is closed off with zero extra heat.

They will be going out on Sunday and I won't be using a heat lamp.

They'll be fine. I look at it this way, if the heat is on, they're going to be under it because it's cozy. But they don't NEED it at that age because they do have all their feathers and chickens will snuggle together to stay warm