Are these chicks ok at 29°F with no heat?

[Crazy Maizie]

I've got 11 chicks that are a mix of LF and bantams. They are going on 6 & 7 weeks. They look pretty feathered. They are in a shed and have been for about 3 weeks now with a heat lamp. Our temps have been as low as 20°. The heat lamp has been off for the last 2 days with 40° at the lowest.
It's going to dip down to 29° in the wee hours of the morning. Do I turn the heat lamp on at my evening check (around 10pm) or just leave it off?
They are headed to the coop for sure next week as our temps should be a bit more stable.
Thanks for any input!

 

[troyer]

Because they've been used to a heat lamp, I would turn it on just because I can. A chilled chicken can be difficult to revive long term.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I would leave it off. They’re tougher than you think. There’s at least a few of them and that’s only a 10° difference. I think the heat on and off with the cold will be more shocking.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Because they've been used to a heat lamp, I would turn it on just because I can. A chilled chicken can be difficult to revive long term.

I would leave it off. They’re tougher than you think. There’s at least a few of them and that’s only a 10° difference. I think the heat on and off with the cold will be more shocking.

Both of these answers is exactly why I keep going back and forth.

 

[HenSolo123]

Following! Similar aged chics (5.5 and 7 weeks) and 35° here tonight!

 

[Jenbirdee]

Im on the cautious side I have ducklings almost 7 weeks old and Im trying not to let their garage space get lower than 45 degrees yet... I will drop it down to 35 next week and then they sleep out in the duck house with the big ducks but will be in a dog crate. spring is here and we wont have a lot more freezing nights.

 

[LizzzyJo]

@azygous sorry to bother you, but could you help with this? It’s an interesting one.

 

[azygous]

When it's below freezing, it's not against the law to turn on a little heat.

That said, it's very easy for humans to mistake their comfort zone for their chickens'. Whereas we are most comfortable at 70-75F, chickens find that oppressive, even young 6 -7 week old chicks. They are decked out sufficiently in insulating feathers that just enough heat to bring the temp up into the high 30s to 40F is more than warm enough for chicks this age.

I have thermometers inside my two coops so I know how warm my added heat sources are making the coops. I do not heat them above 40F, and it's usually in the low 30s. I don't usually turn on the heaters in my coops unless the night temp is supposed to get below 20F.

To sum up, go ahead and give them the heat for this coming cold event. It won't hurt anything.

 

[ChickyWhicky]

I threw my 6 week olds out into the coop and almost immediately, within a week, we saw temps dip into the 20s at night. A bit unexpected but not a shocker. We did not provide heat. They were fine. They are feathered out and can huddle together if need be. I think either way you choose would be fine, but I doubt they will actually require the heat. Id personally leave it off and not provide it anymore period, unless it dips into the teens... Even then I may not provide it. Once they are feathered they are pretty hardy.

 

[azygous]

I didn't mention acclimatization. This is an important distinction when moving chicks or even adult chickens from one temperature zone to another. Being adequately feathered is a critical point, but so is being acclimated to the temperature change.

Chicks at six weeks are pretty much feathered out. But if they have been used to temperatures in the moderate zone, 50s to 70s, suddenly finding themselves in the sub-freezing zone is going to be very uncomfortable, and there is a potential for shock, not great, but some.

It's always best to acclimatize chicks to cold temps over a few days so they can gradually get used to it. If you don't have time to do this, then adding a little heat would be a wise and kind thing to do.