How old are my chicks?

[WMolinaroli]

How old are my chicks? And when can I stop using a heat lamp? I think they are 5 weeks old. The temps at night are in the 60s and the days are upper 70s, low 80s.

 

[Kiki]

Yes STOP using a heat lamp and get them outside in a bigger space ASAP.

 

[WMolinaroli]

Yes STOP using a heat lamp and get them outside in a bigger space ASAP.

They are outside in a big get space. I just wanted to be certain they were old enough. Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Once they are fully feathered they can regulate their body temp. Your chickens are completely feathered and will be fine.

Breed matters with cold hardiness. 60 F is not cold even for cold intolerant chicks at that age.

As a comparison's on the extremes, personally I put cold hardy chicks (Marans and OE) in the coop brooder at 1 week old with heat plates and begin weaning heat by 3 weeks as long as they have feathers most everywhere minus the head; plate on at night. Temps have been 30-35 F at night, 40-50 day in the coop and they thrive- actually feathered out a bit faster I believe.
Pic is at 3 weeks old. They are wind sheltered, btw- very important in colder temps.

By 4 weeks now they are completely weaned from heat and prefer to be in the run during the day. This process also serves to integrate with the big chickens (see, no touch) through a divided run.

 

[WMolinaroli]

Perfect! Yes, the heat lamp was on a thermostat which we lowered each week. Now they are in a giant dog kennel doing the look, don’t touch with my 2 year old hens. I need to get some fencing to give them a safe patch of the run.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Normally at six weeks, chicks are moved outside. I move mine outside at four or five weeks and it does not bother them.