5 week old chicks and brooder plate question

[Raubkatze]

I have 6 chicks that are 5 weeks old. Most of them are fully feathered except of the back of their necks and maybe a little between their wings. I'm wondering how I should have my heat plate set up for them at this point. They are too big to all fit under it, and I've often caught them all sleeping in a pile at the opposite side of the brooder. Should I remove the heat plate at this point? Tilt it up so it's at a 90 degree angle? Or leave it so they can go under it if they want?

 

[DobieLover]

You could have removed the brooder plate 2 weeks ago. They are essentially fully feathered now and should be moved out to their outdoor coop pronto.

 

[Vexys]

Honestly I would remove since they're too big to all fit. With my weather I would be keeping an eye to make sure they're not getting too cold since it's super unpredictable here but with full feather you are good!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I agree remove it. Once fully feathered they don’t need it. I brood outside in the barn and mine self wean off of the brooder plate at 3-4 weeks even when it’s still chilly out.

 

[Raubkatze]

You could have removed the brooder plate 2 weeks ago. They are essentially fully feathered now and should be moved out to their outdoor coop pronto.

It's been in the 30s and snowing on and off here still, and looks like it's not going to hit above 40 for the next week. I wouldn't feel comfortable having them outside yet.

 

[Raubkatze]

I agree remove it. Once fully feathered they don’t need it. I brood outside in the barn and mine self wean off of the brooder plate at 3-4 weeks even when it’s still chilly out.

Mine are still in my living room, unfortunately. I've been obsessively checking the weather for being able to send them outside, but I also need at least a day of good weather to get their run done too. Two days ago we got 3 inches of snow.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Mine are still in my living room, unfortunately. I've been obsessively checking the weather for being able to send them outside, but I also need at least a day of good weather to get their run done too. Two days ago we got 3 inches of snow.

We had 80F on Tuesday and a blizzard the very next day last week. Then the day after the blizzard it was back up to 55F and the snow was gone by the end of the day. It’s crazy this year!

 

[RoyalChick]

As others have said, they don’t need it and can go outside. But I understand being an anxious chick-mom, so if you are worried you can angle it so they can snuggle up against it if they want. Doubt they will bother with it.

 

[Raubkatze]

As others have said, they don’t need it and can go outside. But I understand being an anxious chick-mom, so if you are worried you can angle it so they can snuggle up against it if they want. Doubt they will bother with it.

I went ahead and removed it. They seem to be enjoying the extra space.

 

[redinator]

I have 6 chicks that are 5 weeks old. Most of them are fully feathered except of the back of their necks and maybe a little between their wings. I'm wondering how I should have my heat plate set up for them at this point. They are too big to all fit under it, and I've often caught them all sleeping in a pile at the opposite side of the brooder. Should I remove the heat plate at this point? Tilt it up so it's at a 90 degree angle? Or leave it so they can go under it if they want?

I'm a first time chicken raiser and had the same reservations as you. I had one chick that was slow to finish feathering and I planned to wait until it feathered in before putting them outside permanently. They got evicted three days ago when one of them started "test crowing" at 7am.

Mine will be turning 6 weeks on Monday. They've been indoors mostly with a few trips outside in a transitional pen that I set up until I had their enclosure and coop setup. When the weather was descent, and I could check on them regularly throughout the day, they would spend a few hours outside to get some sun and peck around in the grass and dirt. They haven't had a brooder plate for the last 3 weeks, they will huddle up if they're chilly.

I'm in southern Louisiana and it's unseasonably chilly during the morning and night for this time of year (40-50 degrees) thankfully it hasn't rained since I put them out or I would've brought them back inside.

They haven't had any issues and it's been three days, being able to run around and peck and forage helps them to keep warm, they need the exercise and space to stretch their wings. When they get chilly they all gather up to keep each other warm.