when to remove the heat lamp and open the brooder

[top of the hill]

Hi,

Its our first attempt at raising meaties and am wondering when I should be turning off the heat lamp? My plan was to start raising the lamp so that by this weekend I could turn it off during the day. Temps have been 60's during the day and 40's at night (We're in CT and the weather has been very unpredictable). they were shipped to my local feed store April 19th so I think they are almost 2 weeks old.

Also, when should I let them into the run (seperated from my layers) to explore?

Just not used to the quick speed that there guys grow, so crazy to me!
thanks

 

[Life is Good!]

What breed chicks are they and how feathered out?
Our Freedom Ranger chicks haven't had heat since about 2 1/2 wks old. I check on them before locking up our layers for the night - and I discovered that most of them were laying well outside the heat source - they were too hot! So off went the heat. At that point, they were pretty well feathered on their wings, downy everywhere else.

Now they're almost 4wks and were outside today in the misty cool overcast spring day and did fine. Didn't get too wet or too chilly. They've got some back feathers and none under their wings yet. Hopefully, they'll be outside full time starting tomorrow. If I can get the tractor finished. Darn rain! Really hard to handle hardware cloth in the wet....

 

[top of the hill]

Hi, thanks for your reply!

we have 2 Cornish and 3 Red Rangers (I lost a Cornish the first night we had them). Their wing feathers are really coming in, fuzz everywhere else. I did raise the lamp up a few inches today, like you mentioned, they seemed to be moving away from the heat. I'll give it till the weekend and see how they handle it off for the day.

Thanks again!