Are my chickens too cold?

[SpokaneWA1988]

We are new to backyard chickens and we're trying to learn as much as possible. Our 5 chickens are 10 weeks old and went out into the coop a couple of weeks ago. We were turning the heat lamp on at night up until a couple of nights ago, when it got pretty warm outside. I just went outside to check on them and they're all huddled together and now I'm worried that they're too cold. It's supposed to be 49 degrees out- is that too cold for them to be in their coop without a heat lamp?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

They will be fine - at 10 weeks they should be fully feathered and, as such, are able to withstand a full range of temperature changes. Huddling together is natural.

 

[SpokaneWA1988]

Thanks for the reply- I wasn't sure when they were able to handle the colder temperatures without a heat lamp. Good to know that huddling is natural. I was a little worried when I saw them tonight

 

[RSmith]

Ours are 5 1/2 weeks old and have been in the coop for about a week now, but when in the chick brooder we placed them in the sun whenever possible, just seemed like the right thing to do.

I was afraid they were too cold as well, now being outside all night in the coop, but they do cuddle on the roost,

and when petting them every night before closing the door, I can feel the warmth under the feathers, and they

have been just fine.

They sure do like worms.

It seems like much of this is just common sense, but it SURE IS NICE to have BYC to make sure, isn't it.