Am I a Mean Momma?

[sillycmoy]

So I had my 2 oldest rescue girls about 5-6 weeks old in the coop during the day for the last few days, and only bringing them in at night. But yesterday I brought them in the house around 3pm when the temps dropped to about 40, and got really windy. They were huddled together in the inside coop, I was actually surprised they were in there, because I haven't seen them in there unless I place them in there, and they run out within a minute, So they were probably fine, but today its snowing, windy, and about 28 and they want out. They keep trying to fly out, and keep knocking their heads against the wire. They are literally screaming, and being so loud you thought I was killing them. I feel so bad, but its so cold outside.


I feel like a horrible mom.

 

[Judy]

Chickens much prefer the outdoors. If the coop is draft free, they will probably be fine in there. They will go inside the coop if they want to warm up. Your house is probably uncomfortably warm for them now.

 

[blythspirit]

Oh I am pretty new at this but I too would be afraid to put 5-6 weeks old chicks out in 28 degree weather...sometimes moms have to say no to little ones that want to do something that could harm them. I would put them in a cooler part of the house just to make sure they don't get used to a 'hot house' though..I put my less than a year old girls in the greenhouse...coop and all for the winter so they wouldn't have to deal with being too cold (and it rains here ALLLL winter) I think you did the right thing by not letting them out yet...just sayin..

 

[V-NH]

Oh I am pretty new at this but I too would be afraid to put 5-6 weeks old chicks out in 28 degree weather...sometimes moms have to say no to little ones that want to do something that could harm them. I would put them in a cooler part of the house just to make sure they don't get used to a 'hot house' though..I put my less than a year old girls in the greenhouse...coop and all for the winter so they wouldn't have to deal with being too cold (and it rains here ALLLL winter) I think you did the right thing by not letting them out yet...just sayin..

I put my 4.5 week olds outside without a heat lamp this weekend. They endured a night of temperatures around 20 degrees and did fine. They are in a large coop with no drafts and no heat lamp. I am pretty impressed by how hardy they are.

 

[sillycmoy]

I don't know if the coop would have drafts. I can close them in too if needed. The coop is built under our deck, we get 2-3 feet of snow at a time in the winter, and we figured that if they are under the deck, they won't have as much snow to deal with in the winter. I'm just afraid since it is only 2. If I had more then 2, I don't think I would worry, its currently about 23 outside at 9:10pm, with more snow overnight. I really don't know how old these chicks are since they are rescued. They seemed cold yesterday, it was extremely windy yesterday and chilly, they were huddled in a corner outside of the coop, and I kept putting them back in and they would just run out and fluff out their feathers. Then it got really bad, and I went out to get them, and was surprised to find them actually in the coop, but their feet/legs were freezing when I got them out to bring them in the house. They seemed relieved to be in the house yesterday, but today they have been restless. I did let them run around the kitchen for a while. LOL

Here are the girls, and the coop. Do you really think they are ready to be outside in the coop. Its just going to be extremely cold till this weekend, then in the 50s high and still in the 20s low.

 

[V-NH]

I think they will be alright. They look ready to go outside to me.

 

[what did I do]

I would put them out in the coop for most of the day even on the cold days. Once they get used to the cold days I'd leave them out at night.

 

[sillycmoy]

Well I just didn't have the heart to put them out in blowing snow/freezing rain today. But they said it should be about 39 tomorrow, and then 50 on Thursday. So maybe if we see some sun tomorrow I will put them out, but they will for sure get to go out on Thursday, hopefully it will start to stay warm.

 

[sillycmoy]

Yeah the sun is out, but everything is frosted over and frozen. Its about 38 outside right now, and I'm still nervous to put them outside, I'm afraid their little feet will freeze. But I'm going to be brave and put them out in the coop, if they decide they want to come out, they can then make that decision to freeze right? Sorry, I just feel so bad for them, they have had such a rough start.