chicks

[p54jes]

Been trying to find the next few steps for my three week old chicks, at the mo they are in a brooder under heat lamp 24hrs a day . What is the next step please?
Cheers
P54jes

[chicken slave]

Take the heat away during the day and only put it on at night.
My Rhode Rocks have been of the heat for 2 weeks (they are 4 weeks old) as the weather has been so mild, I gave them a box with some extra bedding in so they could snuggle at night if they wanted but normal found them sitting on top of it.
It really depends on the breed and if there feathers have developed to when the steps take place but by 3 weeks I would safely just give them night time heat.

[RichmondHens]

As chicken slave says, start reducing the heat time. If they have been used to full heat, turn it down, or take it away for a bit during the day. Always give them heat at night though. By 6 weeks they should have most of their first feathers and should manage without heat.

[matthew2riches]

Mine were outside on their 3rd week! They only had heat for the first 2 weeks. That might just be because I am cruel lol!

[Hilary B]

It depends on the weather (if they are going outside). The neighbour from whom I got a lot of chooks had a home-made brooder with one heated end, and one unheated. The chicks had access to all areas. From a week old, the feed was at the unheated end. Once they spent all their time in the unheated end, they were transfered to an unheated pen (usually about 4-5 weeks) and after another 2 weeks, they went outside.

[di]

Ours at home are still under the heat lamp 24 hours a day,(so you can't have that back yet Matthew!),what's a struggle for my brain is...the ones with Mummies at the lottie were running around outside on their second or third day of being born...spending very little time under Mums wings!
Is it just that they harden up quicker because they were born outside,or do I really need the lamp on all the time?

[Hilary B]

If the lamp only warmed PART of their space, they would probably spend a fair amount of time in the unwarmed bit (especially if the food and water containers were there).
The ones outside can run to Mum for a warm-up whenever it suits them. If you switch the lamp off, YOU are deciding when they need warm.......