Nervous about temps

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Bluegrassmama

Bluegrassmama

In the Brooder
10 Years
Apr 22, 2009
28
3
26
I have officially put our chicks outside! They are loving their coop and run. They are approximately 4 weeks old and I was wondering about the temps this weekend. Daytime will be in the upper 50's to 60's and nighttime with be upper 40's to 50's. Should I get them a heat lamp?
 
Bluegrassmama said:
I have officially put our chicks outside! They are loving their coop and run. They are approximately 4 weeks old and I was wondering about the temps this weekend. Daytime will be in the upper 50's to 60's and nighttime with be upper 40's to 50's. Should I get them a heat lamp?
Click to expand...
Edited
 
Last edited:
Bluegrassmama said:
I have officially put our chicks outside! They are loving their coop and run. They are approximately 4 weeks old and I was wondering about the temps this weekend. Daytime will be in the upper 50's to 60's and nighttime with be upper 40's to 50's. Should I get them a heat lamp?
Click to expand...
You don't need any kind of heat lamp. Give them a huddle box instead. They will be fine. My chicks wean themselves off heat at 4 weeks old, and they are brooded outside, usually from the age of 48 hours with a heating pad. By 4 weeks, no heat needed. I am in zone 4, quite a bit further north than you are. Chicks do fine with freezing temps if they have a secure coop.
 
I'm pretty sure a huddle box is basically a small enough space where the chicks body heat will be trapped as they cuddle. It would be blocked from wind and the elements. We live in zone and 2-3 and never use artificial heat. Keep them well feed and make sure if their water freezes... change it. Do not put hot water in their their drinker please. Hot water will actually freeze faster than cold or room temp. Just keep them secure and give them room to stretch. Our chicks go out at 4 weeks and our night temps are around freezing year round.
 
Bluegrassmama said:
What is a huddle box?
Click to expand...
Huddle Box
Make them a 'huddle box', put it in the brooder after turning off the heat(you might have to 'persuade' them to use it) then move it out to the coop with them.
Cardboard box with a bottom a little bigger than what they need to cuddle next to each other without piling and tall enough for them to stand in.
Cut an opening on one side a couple inches from bottom and big enough for 2-3 of them to go thru at once.
Fill the bottom with some pine shavings an inch or so deep.
This will give them a cozy place to sleep/rest, block any drafts and help hold their body heat in.

Here's one I used, inside a 'safe room'crate when integrating.

 
I just wanted to update and say that I made them a huddle box and put pine shavings in it. They slept in it last night and did just fine. Thank you everyone for the advice!
 

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