5wks old outside/Did I do it right?

[Schwartzfarmnc]

We moved the girls outside to their big house and I need some reassurance we did the right thing....they grow up so fast

Our coop is a 10x12 fully insulated and the girls are 90% fully feathered and we have a heat lamp out for the cold nights. Up here in the mountains the lows are around 40-45 and highs in the mid 60's. Are the girls too cold? Did we do the right thing? They were outgrowing their brooder and we had to get them in something bigger. What are your experiences with cool nights and 5 week olds?

More nervous with these chickens than I ever was with our 8 year old daughter.

 

[DoverChick]

That's what I did with our chickies a little over a week ago and they are doing really well. The other night it got down into the 30's - so I gave them a 250 watt bulb, otherwise I would use a 100 watt bulb. I was actually opening the door to the outside run and letting them out when we get home from work so they can stretch their legs. It's in the 50's and 60's during the day.

 

[kimschicks]

I put out our 4 wk olds to live with a little barred rock hen, whose toes fell off last month?, she loves the company and they all huddle together under the lamp at night. The little ones just fly around stretching, they are happy out there.

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

Thank you for the quick responses!

We are in the up and down weather pattern now, some days in the 70's and other the highs top in the 50's, so I think we should keep the heat lamp out there for a few weeks until the cold is gone. The only days that I'm really concerned with is when the nights drop in the high 30's to 40...well my wife is more worried than I, but it does get to me too I suppose. First time chicken owners, and just don't want the girls to be too cold, at least there are 16 of them to keep each other warm!

 

[7L Farm]

I had my chicks in their coop at 7 days old. I provided a wire cage covered with a blanket & heat lamp. I had thirty so they all snuggled up to stay warm. Some days weather providing I'd turn the lamp off. At 4 weeks they were fully feathered so I removed the heat lamp & the cage. They did good & are really healthy. They are now 7 or 8 weeks old.