When can chickies sleep outside with no heat?

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ebirkner

ebirkner

Hatching
May 1, 2016
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Hi everyone!

I"m a brand new chickie mama. I bought an assorted Bantam variety at Tractor Supply about 3 weeks ago. I am not really sure how old they were when we bought them. They are half feathered and half yellow fuzz (SO CUTE). I am in Pittsburgh, PA. We are dog sitting for 10 days. Tonight's temperature should get down to 55. Can I leave them outside in the predator-proof coop with no heat in these temperatures or is it still too early? I"m worried the dog will try and eat the chickies in our brooder overnight.

Thanks!
 
The rule of thumb is 4 weeks old before you turn off the heat. The chicks are probably only 3 weeks old, so they are not yet ready to be outside all night without heat. You can begin to harden them off this week, start by leaving the heat off in their brooder for a couple of hours during the day, slowly increase the amount of time unheated, so by 4 weeks they are ready for no heat.
I know that makes for a difficult week for you, can you put the brooder in an area you can close off? Could you temporarily put your heat lamp in the coop?
 
We'll move everything to a room where the dog can't get to them. We've been letting the chicks free range during the day outside. They seem to "dig" it ;)
 
welcome-byc.gif


Thanks for joining us!
 
Keep an eye on the dog, he could massacre all of them in no time. A lot of new members tell us that. Best if chicks and dogs NEVER meet.
 

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