Are they too cold???

[Shannon's Chix]

4-7 week old bantams I moved out to the coop a few days ago...it's been 80 during the day, 60's at night. Now today high was high 50's...they spent all day in the coop but they were fine. Tonight will be low 50's, maybe high 40's and I'm sick with worry. I have sand in my coops so I put a bucket in there with hay and pine bedding and put them in there at bedtime instead of putting them on the roost like I've done the past couple nights. I've never seen them so fluffed up and they're all balled up in the bucket.

How do I know if they are too cold? I already moved the brooder out of the garage (only source of electricity) and it's too large for me to move back in myself, hubby's at work. The only other thing I could do is bring them in the house and put them in the bathtub. Here's a pic of one from a couple days ago...wwyd? Thanks!

 

[Wildsky]

If you removed the heatlamp a while ago and then moved them out they'll probably be just fine, if they have somewhere to cuddle up and there is no draft!

 

[teddiliza]

Cute little porcelain d'uccle you got there! I actually ran an extension cord from my house to my coop and hung a brooder lamp in there just for the extra heat since we've been around 10 degrees here at some nights. Which is why I still have my Halloween chicks still in the garage LOL. I say if you pick one up and the skin under their feathers is not toasty warm, then they are too cold. If they're active and happy, and scratching around then they're fine.

 

[karen71]

I agree with Wildsky - also they look pretty feathered to me - and the temps your getting don't appear too cold - I know it's hard letting them go like your kids

 

[newchickmom09]

I think they are feathered out enough also. Mine practicaly sit on top of each other when they sleep and it is about the same temp but getting warmer. Live in AZ. Mine have always done this even when they were small and nights were still 80 degrees.

 

[spotsplus]

We have been getting down to 15 degrees the last couple nights. Most of my small bantams are 3-6 months old with a few that are mature adults. I have been worried they would be cold as only one cockerel will go in the henhouse. They all snuggle up on perches. I have gone out each morning hoping no one was frozen and with the exception of 1 3 month old OE cockerel they are doing very well. I had to bring in "Buff" because he was as fluffed as he could get, was raising and lowering each foot in turn and shaking so I brought him in. I had him in the house till he recovered then moved him to my covered porch were it will still get to freezing at night but he seems to be able to deal with that. I think I'm going to put a heat lamp in the coop. I'd hate to lose any of them. I just lost my beloved black Duccle "Gwinny" and I'd hate to lose another (Gwinny has been sick for a while- not cold related).
T

 

[Bandana]

When I lived in the mountains of Colorado, I would put the younger ones in a big cardboard box on nights that were supposed to get below freezing. Once they were grown, of course, that was no longer necessary.

 

[Sillystunt]

OMG, i have to crack up! AT MYSELF...........lol

I have heat lamps strung all over the place like a nut! And it's getting into the 30's. I am so worried i have seriously lost sleep pver my chickens.I PUT THEM ON WHEN IT IS UNDER 50, HAHAHAHAH The bantams i have tarps and a lamp, OEGB i have a blue flood light hanging over there box(they are like 4-5 weeks old, flood lights over my quail & chicks. My husband looked at me and said," you realize the chickens will be warmer than us tonight!" LOL we have no heat BUT my chickens do