Advice on Chicks in coop please

[JeanGenie]

Hi

Just wondering if my chicks can stand the cooler temp's we are having over the next few days here in the UK.

I have placed my chicks in ther brand new coop outside of late as we have been having daytime tempretures around 80 degree's, and night 60. But over the next few days our nights will be around the mid 40's. My chicks are 6 weeks old on Saturday.

Can they with stand the cooler nights?. I have installed a 60W light in the sleeping area which does kick off some warmth. Would I need this on or can they manage on there own yet?..

Sorry am new to hatching and breeding and these are my first chicks dont want to get up in the morning and find them dead.....

Thanks

Dal

 

[ging3rhoffman]

Im a worry wart and i always think..better safe than sorry so if i were you i would hang a red heat lamp in their coop about 3 foot from the ground. My chicks at 8 weeks old would still go doze off under their heat lamp.

 

[JeanGenie]

Hi

I have installed a heat lamp inside the sleeping area, but as they are now 6 weeks old I didnt want them to become soft. I want to harden them off ready for our harsh cold winter that will arrive in around 3 to 4 months.

I am looking out of the back window and can see the red glow on the lamp and I know its warm in there, but am I being far to over protective, or just let them prepare themselves. I know if they were with mom she would be doing the warming thing... Tonight is going to reach mid 40's, is that too cold for them at such an early age?.

Thanks

Dal

 

[mediazeal]

I would wait til they are 8-10 weeks to harden them off as they will have their full feathers coming in by then.

I have my 6 week olds inside still because its still 40's at night. They will be able to take that easily in a couple of weeks but I am risking them before then. IMHO

Good luck

 

[lunkerchicken]

I have my 5 week old girls in the coop full time and I have a red heat light out there where the temps at night get down in the 50's. I will wait another couple of weeks until they feather out a bit more to harden them. Your bad winters will start in September?

 

[JeanGenie]

Hi

Thanks all for the advice. I wasnt sure about the colder nights but have opened the curtains this morning and all 4 are fine. I have been out to them as its pouring with rain and fed them and they seemed very happy.

As to the winters arriving in September, our nights will draw in as normally the jetstreams change there path and pull the northerly winds down from over Greenland. Some years it will be warm then but the last few its been getting down to 40's and frost around late Septemebr early October. So, I wanted to have them ready for then so they can survive. If I am this worried over my babies now can you imagine what I will be like if the 22 eggs I have in the incubator all hatch...!!!!!!

OMG.... someone pass the vallium...!!!!!!

THanks again from across the Pond....

Dal