They slept outside the heat plate! Time to remove?

[thecatumbrella]

I know I have a tendency to leave it too long, as my basement can get down to 53 at night. But the girls are 5 weeks old and finally slept in a puddle outside the plate last night. Am I good to remove the heat today? Would love to give them more space in the brooder for the final stretch.

Poll for fun.

Update: They've been hanging out under the heat plate this morning. I'm still interested in what others normally do, but I'll probably leave it in for a bit longer since it's a comfort item. Lots of changes this week with longer and longer field trips to the pen.

 

[Cheekychook12]

I know I have a tendency to leave it too long, as my basement can get down to 53 at night. But the girls are 5 weeks old and finally slept in a puddle outside the plate last night. Am I good to remove the heat today? Would love to give them more space in the brooder for the final stretch.

Poll for fun.

Well photos would be good, to see how feathered they are, but assuming fully feathered indoors they should be fine, maybe take it away and if you hear loud peeping (indicating they are cold) put it back

 

[thecatumbrella]

Well photos would be good, to see how feathered they are

Good point. The slowest one has almost a full coat, but no head feathers.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

When they get moved out, they will cheep because they are in a new place as well.

We just moved our 3weekers(4 this Sunday) out last night, with heater and shelter, and once night came they were cheeping bc of new strange world, so keep that in mind. It almost breaks your heart lol but they'll figure it out or puddle pile together.

After rasing winter babies this spring ones as so much easier to keep warm lol

Good luck!

 

[thecatumbrella]

It almost breaks your heart lol but they'll figure it out or puddle pile together.

Babies!! Too cute

Yeah, we usually have to place the pullets in the coop their first night ourselves (because there's no other chickens to guide them), and they'll scream their heads off for a little bit. It makes me feel horrible. Coop day will be here soon, but not quite yet.

I thought it would be easier to brood early, but I'm thinking you have a point with the extra heat! Our weather stinks in NH. It's either freezing or sweltering in "spring", both of which are rough for transitioning chicks outside.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Sounds like they no longer need heat but if it makes you feel better to leave it in (and unplugged) as a placebo for a day or two more it's harmless to do so.