Acceptable night time temps to house meat birds outside?

[JessicaThistle]

I want to get my Cornish X outside in the chicken tractor on the grass for good and can't find a concrete night time temperature that will be okay for them.

Can anyone tell me what temp is too cold? They aren't all of the way feathered but do these guys ever feather correctly with the sheer rate of growth?

There are 29 of them. Will they be able to keep warm with the night time temps being the the 50s?

 

[Northwoods]

My 23 CX seem to be fine outside at night with temps in the low 50's. I have been turning a heat lamp on at night when it gets into the 40's, and only about half have been going under the light during those nights. They have been in the tractor since 3 weeks old.

 

[JessicaThistle]

Mine just turned 2 weeks old on Monday. It has been mid to high 50s each night. I wonder if I added a heat lamp they would be okay at least until they are actually 3 weeks old? Ugh, I don't want to mess up and lose any!

 

[LindaB220]

Mine just turned 2 weeks old on Monday. It has been mid to high 50s each night. I wonder if I added a heat lamp they would be okay at least until they are actually 3 weeks old? Ugh, I don't want to mess up and lose any!

I don't think you even need to do that. They should be fine. Keep them dry in case of rain. Use a tarp.

 

[LindaB220]

My 23 CX seem to be fine outside at night with temps in the low 50's. I have been turning a heat lamp on at night when it gets into the 40's, and only about half have been going under the light during those nights. They have been in the tractor since 3 weeks old.

Good luck with your bunch.

 

[JessicaThistle]

I don't think you even need to do that. They should be fine. Keep them dry in case of rain. Use a tarp.

Thank you. Being Oregon and our manic weather, it decided to pour yesterday and today. I put them in the tractor for awhile yesterday and some of the chicks found it quite fun to catch the drips running down the tarp. Once I saw the rain wasn't letting up, I put them back in the brooder in the garage.

I think once the rain stops and we warm up again, I will put them out there for good. You saw my tractor in the other thread. They are pretty happy in it. They will be 3 weeks old on Monday and I think they are ready. They are trying to fly over the brooder wall so this rain better stop asap!

 

[LindaB220]

Thank you. Being Oregon and our manic weather, it decided to pour yesterday and today. I put them in the tractor for awhile yesterday and some of the chicks found it quite fun to catch the drips running down the tarp. Once I saw the rain wasn't letting up, I put them back in the brooder in the garage.

I think once the rain stops and we warm up again, I will put them out there for good. You saw my tractor in the other thread. They are pretty happy in it. They will be 3 weeks old on Monday and I think they are ready. They are trying to fly over the brooder wall so this rain better stop asap!

They are sooooo ready.