10 week old chicks too cold?

[2hotchicks]

I have two 10 week old pet slw, my first & only chickens. It was 44 degrees this AM in southern Indiana. The girls came out of coop but then roosted on a log in run side by side with their feathers fluffed. The sun was shining but not yet on their run. How do I know if they are too cold? I'm hoping if they were miserable they would have gone back in the coop?? Should I confine them to coop a little later on chilly mornings?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

44 degrees this AM

Hi there.

Them ladies are fully clothed wearing toasty down jackets that would have us sweating at 44 degrees. When they roost it covers and warms their feet as well. And they can tuck their heads and combs into the feathers or under their wing.

No, you should not confine them longer, the early bird gets the worm is a true statement. Just relax. As long as they have a DRY space to go when it rains... if they WANT to. Many times my birds go out to forage in the rain (PNW) because it brings bugs out. When the wind gets relentless is when they spend more time in the barn. But yes, 100% most birds will find a place they are comfortable when the weather is not. And Wyandotte seem mostly smart enough for that.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

At 10 weeks they should be fully feathered, I think they should be good...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have two 10 week old pet slw, my first & only chickens. It was 44 degrees this AM in southern Indiana. The girls came out of coop but then roosted on a log in run side by side with their feathers fluffed. The sun was shining but not yet on their run. How do I know if they are too cold? I'm hoping if they were miserable they would have gone back in the coop?? Should I confine them to coop a little later on chilly mornings?

Are they fully feathered?
I would leave the coop open and let them decide if they want to come out or not.
It's not unusual for my adult fully feathered hens to come out on chilly mornings, eat/drink a little, then perch together waiting for the sun. Feathers are good insulators, the fluffing traps warm air.

 

[Henry&Friends]

I leave my coop door open, so if any hen decides today’s not her day, it doesn’t have to be. My chickens will go out in the rain, snow, sun or sleet, they don’t seem to mind.

 

[2hotchicks]

Thank you for reassuring this 1st time chicken mom. There was also heavy dew this morning which made everything cold & wet. I'm home today so they're happily foraging in their playpen in the sun now. Thanks again!

 

[2hotchicks]

At 10 weeks they should be fully feathered, I think they should be good...

Thank you

 

[Henry&Friends]

Thank you for reassuring this 1st time chicken mom. There was also heavy dew this morning which made everything cold & wet. I'm home today so they're happily foraging in their playpen in the sun now. Thanks again!

My chicken run is a mud bath, and my yard is a hill. Also, it just rained for two days straight. So my mornings haven’t been easy, lol.

 

[2hotchicks]

Are they fully feathered?
I would leave the coop open and let them decide if they want to come out or not.
It's not unusual for my adult fully feathered hens to come out on chilly mornings, eat/drink a little, then perch together waiting for the sun. Feathers are good insulators, the fluffing traps warm air.

My first chicks but they appear fully feathered. When I got them they looked like baby vultures but now they look like little chickens (those fuzzy butts are so darn cute). Once coop door opens in AM it stays open & they can go in & out as they please. I felt bad when they appeared cold.

 

[2hotchicks]

My chicken run is a mud bath, and my yard is a hill. Also, it just rained for two days straight. So my mornings haven’t been easy, lol.

Send the rain to southern Indiana, we need it!