I have 8 chickens in their house, they are 5-6wks. The temp. has been very warm for this time of year. They have been out there since they were 4wks. Temps are supposed to drop to low 30's at night next wk. Should I hang a heat lamp in the chicken house or will they be OK?

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 20, 2002

Answers

If there are no major drafts, the heat lamp will probably be ok. Since you only have 8 you could always bring them in just at night until it warms back up. The problems that I have had with those cold nights after the warmer days is that the chicks pile up in the corner inevitably squashing one. I have hung a light bulb in the corner and covered the cage with a blanket(not near the light bulb or it will burn it)when it got chilly at night before. It really depends on the coop that you have them in.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), April 20, 2002.

By the time the birds are 8 weeks old, they should be fully feathered and you won't need any heat out there. I raise the hatchery chicks in the house and put them outside at 8 weeks, whether it's winter or summer. I haven't lost any.

I have no heat nor lights where the birds are. When my hens hatch the eggs, the chicks do just fine out there. It's surprising in the winter how the little ones run all over the pen exploring. I'd be under mom! -G- But mom is there for naps and she takes the chicks back into the nest box for the night.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), April 20, 2002.

I have 2 week old chicks and week old ducks in a coop right now. We had weather in the 70's when I put them in there. During the day it was so warm I was able to unplug on of the heat lamps and raise the other. I have two 250 watt bulbs with reflectors. The last three nights is has dropped down to the single digits and the days have only been up to 40. I have hung another 250 watt bulb in there and lowered them. Actually two are lower and one is a little higher. This morning at 6 am (I am told that is the coldest time of the day) it was pretty toasty. The chicks are very active and the ducklings are happy. Everyone is eating and doing their birdie thing.

As they get older and they get their primary feathers the temprature can be gradually lowered. I also hung a large blanket over the inside of the door. There were some air gaps and this lessens the heat loss when we go in and out of the coop.

It seems to work here in Northern Minnesota for really young ones.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 20, 2002.