The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Jon Feather on June 13, 2015, 10:50:20 am

Title: When can I take chicks off heat?
Post by: Jon Feather on June 13, 2015, 10:50:20 am

I've kept poultry for 25 years but rarely bothered hatching eggs.  I now have 11 Gold Laced Wyandotte x Wheaten Game bantam chicks that have been under a heat lamp for 4 1/2 weeks.  They are pretty much feathered up now and I'm wondering when I can take them off heat and put them in outside in a small house and run.

Appreciate any advice.

Title: Re: When can I take chicks off heat?
Post by: Eve on June 13, 2015, 02:12:50 pm

Hi Jon,

Do they still sleep under the heat lamp at night or are they not bothered?

Have they been outside during the day? If so, what I do is look at when (at what sort of temperature) they start huddling together looking unhappy and cold.

At that age, if they've been outside before they'll be close to ready for outside life depending on the temperature at night (14C here last night but only 8C forecast for a few days from now).

But if they haven't been outside yet, I would give them a few days to get used to wind and learning to get out of the rain ;)

Title: Re: When can I take chicks off heat?
Post by: Jon Feather on June 13, 2015, 02:35:37 pm

Thanks for that.  They have been out for one day.  They seemed to like it on grass with a bit of sunshine too.  I'll pop them outside during the day for a week or so and see how they go.   Thanks again. :chook:

Title: Re: When can I take chicks off heat?
Post by: JEP on June 13, 2015, 03:44:49 pm

i fitted are heat lamp with a dimer switch
and turn it down as they get older

Title: Re: When can I take chicks off heat?
Post by: Jon Feather on June 13, 2015, 04:07:09 pm

I do something similar, I raise it higher and higher (on the odd occasions I have a hatch).

I will be building the new incubator this week which should hold 100+ eggs. :excited: :fc: