[JJ282]

I've got 20  3/4week old chicks of various breeds currently in a brooding cage indoors with a heat lamp. They grown very quick and nearly fully feathered. Im just wondering when I could put them outside in a little coop and run without heat?

[PaulineM]

Hi

I'm not sure but I'm sure some-one will more experienced will reply soon but I do know that my chick that was raised by a broody was left on her own at 5 weeks and had to sleep alone from then on too 

[rileyfin]

I start to wean my chicks off a heat lamp from 1.5weeks old by 3 weeks I start to turn lamp off during the day and on at a distance at night, I also put chicks in a little run during the day starting at a couple of hours and building up to all day, make sure there is shelter.
By the end of the 4th week they are usually off heat all together and after a couple of days off heat and out during the day they go in their own little hen house with plenty of bedding and ventilation in weather like this.
Hope that helps 

[ANHBUC]

My older bantam chicks are just over 3 weeks old and have lived outdoors since being hatched by a broody.  They do have the benefit of being able to snuggle under her if they are feeling cold. 

We had frost this morning so I wouldn't rush into taking them off heat and outdoors permanently too quickly.  Get them acclimatised gradually as rileyfin says but just assess how they are coping with the weather.  You don't want to loose any by rushing things.   

[Sassy]

Just be aware that it is unseasonably cold at the moment

[digga666]

I start to wean my chicks off a heat lamp from 1.5weeks old by 3 weeks I start to turn lamp off during the day and on at a distance at night, I also put chicks in a little run during the day starting at a couple of hours and building up to all day, make sure there is shelter.
By the end of the 4th week they are usually off heat all together and after a couple of days off heat and out during the day they go in their own little hen house with plenty of bedding and ventilation in weather like this.
Hope that helps 

I thought they had to be under the lamp until they were old enough to be kicked out ... 6 weeks? .... good news then as i was dreading the leccy bill from the 250watt lamp.

Mine are just a few days old and eating lots of crumb, do i keep filling up food containers or limit them to a set amount per day?

[kegs]

Keep the container full and they will eat what they need.

[JJ282]

Thanks everyone for you advice, I've started putting their heat off during the days now and I've got the house and run ready to put them out on sunny days (very rare i know) to get them use to it then hopefully within the next couple of weeks they can be outside full time. They seem to be healthy and strong chicks with good appetites so I think they'll be ok outside and I've made their new sleeping quarters as warm and cosy as I can so fingers crossed they like the great outdoors soon. Thanks 

[Sassy]

This sounds like a good plan