When to stop using the brooder lamp?

[Manda0227]

Just as the title says! How old should the chicks be before stopping using the lamp? They're 4.5 weeks old now, and I keep raising it higher and higher above the brooder as sometimes I think it irritates the girls more than they like it. Sometimes they'll sit underneath it, but more often then not they'll be out of the way of it. About what age do they stop needing it? They have feathers covering most of their bodies, and have started getting some in on their heads. Just wondering, they've been outside a bunch- but not extended amounts of time, and seem pretty pissy (can I say that on here?) when its time to come back in! I'm HOPEFULLY going to finish my coop this weekend, granted it doesn't rain, hale, sleet, or snow!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Ok first off It depends if they are in or outside in the brooder
Second they should be done with it now at four weeks mine are out in the big coop, if they have feathers on most of their bodies they are good to go outside (weather permitting of course) so what you need to do is start cutting it off at night if they are inside if outside depending on weather cut it off during the day for short times I do about 1 hour the first time and then keep going longer and longer(1hour on 1 hour off and so on for the fourth week) till they no longer have it on them then it is to the outside. where they are used to not having it on them at all and when night fall comes they know it is time for bed (of course I do check the temps here before I do a lock down on them and Yes I do have a brooder light in the coop just in case it gets below 50* here which in Texas not gonna happen to much so no real worries there.

Hope this helps Good luck to you

 

[Manda0227]

Thank you! That does help! They're inside, so I want them out- Soon! I'm in Massachusetts, and it kind of stinks since literally one day it's 75 and sunny, the next you have frost on your car and it doesn't break 50 Degrees!

 

[Happy Chooks]

If they are being brooded indoors, you can cut the light off. (at least during the day) At that age they're good at 70 degrees, so if your house is stable, then they won't even need it at night. If you're not keeping the house at roughly 70, then give them the lamp at night.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My 4 week olds are going out as soon as this storm is over. Once it gets back in the 70's, then they are out in the little coop. (with a lamp at night until they are fully feathered)