When do I remove heat lamp/move my bantams outside

[MichelleSinNC]

I have two week old bantams that are under a heat lamp inside. How long do we need to keep them under the heat lamp and at what age can they be moved outside full-time? It is just now starting to warm up here but won't be consistently above 40s at night for at least another month or so.

thanks!

 

[Cellochick]

You will want to wait at least till they have feathers to take them outside, even then wait till its about 60 outside so the temperature change isn't a huge shock to them. I housed my chicks in the house, then the garage both times with a heatlamp but when its nice out let them run outside to start getting used to it

 

[MichelleSinNC]

How long and what temperature should they be at under the heat lamp? They act like they're freezing right now and it's 80-85 where they are (huddled together) and about 75ish in the rest of their box.
I don't want them to freeze or get cold but I know they need to start 'weaning' off the lamp at some point.

 

[rockmissjess]

Okay so this is my prefab juvenile chick coop.. today is officially going to be their first day outside.. i know i didn't pick the best of days with it about to rain and windy.. but they are too big for the 54 gallon tote inside the house...and its driving me nuts.... so i took a down comforter and put it on the roof of the run and <<<<< side of the coop...put a large piece of plywood on top ... a sheet on the other side <<<<< and two folding card tables... sounds more and more ghetto i know... so only >>>> this part here where the door is open (is shut now) is the only part exposed.. i moved the heat lamp inside... the little coop part and there are some pine shavings on the floor of it.. and sand now where that weedy grass was... i hope they will be okay.. they will be 5 weeks old sunday.. and they are just driving me nutzo in the house.. they are also right by the back porch (you can see the cement in the pic) so i can check on them constantly..