5 week olds outside and chilly weather

[R.M. Hens]

My 5 week olds have been outside for almost 2 weeks now. They are doing great. Tonight the low is going to be 45 degrees (highs 75), the coldest its been since they have been outside. They are almost fully feathered.

Should I:
Put them back into the brooder with the heat lamp?
Leave them in the ouside kennel with a heat lamp?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'd not worry about it. If they've been outside for 2 weeks without a heat source they're perfectly acclimated and able to keep warm. 45 degrees is not at all cold for a chicken, the worry is if they are slow in feathering or not acclimated. Last year I had 3 to 4 week old chicks out with lows 45 to 50 F, they were well feathered at that age.

 

[R.M. Hens]

Thank goodness. I was dreading having to take them out of their nice large outside kennel to put them in the cramped quarters of the baby brooder.
Thanks for the advice!