when to let your chickens outside and when to take the heat lamp off of the chicks

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! The Ecoglows are more like a mother hen, the chicks come and go underneath them a lot compared to what they seem to do with a heat light, you just raise the Ecoglows legs as the chicks grow... it should work fine outside at 70*, they say not to use it under 50* because it can't heat enough (I never used one outside where the temp varied that much). Yes, you should have a regular light on to see by during daylight hours in a dark room if you are using an Ecoglow since the chicks won't eat etc in the dark.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[gander007]

 

[JadedPhoenix]

at what age do you take the heat lamps off the chicks and take them outside for the first time, i am new to the chicken business so all comments are appreciated

I put my chicks in a coop outside from the very beginning. I put a heat lamp in I wait to take it away when I notice that the chicks aren't hanging out under it very often after they are feathered out. I make it where they are in a cordoned off in a corner away from the other chickens and able to come and go as they please so when they get chilled, they go into the coop to warm up then venture out when they want and are able to keep from getting too warm. That's how I've always done it. Never brooded them inside for more than a night or two.

 

[Clucked Up]

Brilliant! Common sense is common sense!

 

[ChickyChickens]

Welocme to BYC!!! It is an aweosme forum (the BEST in the world) and has a great comminity!!! Hope you have a great time and learn A LOT!

 

[garyangela]

I built our brooder with casters, once the chicks had about 50% of their feathers I would roll them out of the garage into the sun. It has been mid 80s here so no cold air at all. We started out with 6 but we noticed that one was not growing as fast as the other 5 and she was not as active, she lasted almost 3 weeks but just never grew. This is our first chickens so I do hope we are going to keep the rest, they are very active and love crickets and chasing flies when they find their way into the brooder. Thanks to this site I think we are better informed and educated about raising our little flock.
Thanks BYC!

 

[nj2wv]

Welcome to BYC. !!

 

[garyangela]

Thanks!