Can 5-6 week old chicks handle transitioning to coop with lows in 40s without supplemental heat?

[BrandonsBirbs]

Hello and welcome to BYC! There isn't a better place for learning how to raise your poultry. Ask as many questions as you want, but remember to have a little fun too.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and welcome to BYC! It's so nice to meet you! Please make yourself at home!

 

[All4Eggz]

Welcome!
Glad you joined!


Good luck with your flock .

 

[WILIFORD]

Welcome glad you're here.
To answer your question;
Build them a wool hen. I did a post last year that started out looking for suggestions, by the end of it, with the help of this forum, I had a solid design that proved successful. I just did a post a couple of hours ago, this year I am going to attempt to raise my hatchlings from start to finish, with no artificial light, or heat source other than the wool hen.
If you choose this approach I hope you will keep us posted.
Hope this helps
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/any-suggestions-for-my-wool-hen-project.1445045/

 

[BeccaRecca13]

Hi Everyone. This is year 2 with brand new chicks. There was a predator with my last flock and I had to give them up (to save their lives) and then I went back to my coop and predator proofed it. My chicks are now 6 weeks old and in my basement - which is TRULY starting to get sooooooo dusty and rather stinky (even though I change the bedding often).
I would like to move them out to the coop, however, these are the temps… what should I do?

 

[Starburst]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!
Make yourself at home in this amazing community!

You've received a lot of great advice already, and I don't think I have much more to add! However, I generally choose to "harden" the chicks off, so to speak.
I'm assuming that you've been keeping the chickens inside up until the present - aside from being inside, are they currently under a heat lamp/plate? If so, you may want to determine the temperature they are used to right now and start reducing that temperature, a little at a time.
You could also bring them outdoors for a period of time in cooler temperatures and see how they are doing in it.
This way, you're getting them used to cooler temperatures, so that their first night out isn't a huge shock.
I can totally understand your fear of coop fires, and I also choose not to use heat lamps in the coop. When you do make the big move, try to pick a warmer night, if possible. For example, if their first night is 50 degrees, and the next night is around 40 degrees, it should be less of a shock. Also, try to make sure that they have nice insulation, and generally just keep an eye on them to make sure they're doing well.
Either way, I think that your chicks will probably do alright in 40 degrees, so long you ease them into it gently! I hope that I was able to help, and best of luck!

 

[NatJ]

My chicks are now 6 weeks old and in my basement - which is TRULY starting to get sooooooo dusty and rather stinky (even though I change the bedding often).
I would like to move them out to the coop, however, these are the temps… what should I do?

What temperature is the basement?
Do the chicks have a heat source in the basement?
If so, what temperature are they actually living with?

I agree with @Starburst recent comment about gradually getting them used to cooler temperatures gradually. If you've already been doing that, they may be ready to move outside right now. Otherwise, it may take a few days or a week or two, depending on how much temperature difference you are dealing with.

 

[BeccaRecca13]

What temperature is the basement?
Do the chicks have a heat source in the basement?
If so, what temperature are they actually living with?

I agree with @Starburst recent comment about gradually getting them used to cooler temperatures gradually. If you've already been doing that, they may be ready to move outside right now. Otherwise, it may take a few days or a week or two, depending on how much temperature difference you are dealing with.

Basement has been at 50, they use to be under a heat lamp, but I started at 4 weeks pulling it further and further away from the area. Now they do not sleep with a heat lamp, but they do huddle on their pallet roosts that I put in the brooder. I do have 50 chicks currently in the brooder, so I’m guessing they are keeping eachother warm when roosting, but the coop is rather large and has a lot of open space.

I didn’t mean to high-jack this post, apologies to the author!

 

[NatJ]

Basement has been at 50, they use to be under a heat lamp, but I started at 4 weeks pulling it further and further away from the area. Now they do not sleep with a heat lamp, but they do huddle on their pallet roosts that I put in the brooder. I do have 50 chicks currently in the brooder, so I’m guessing they are keeping eachother warm when roosting, but the coop is rather large and has a lot of open space.

So they're basically living at 50 degrees, and your outdoor temperatures should range from the 30s (low) to 60+ (high), and you have 50 chicks.

I think you can just move them out.

That advice is assuming the coop has a sheltered area, with roof and enough walls to block wind. I've seen some coops in warm areas that have walls of hardware cloth instead of solid materials. If you have one of that style, put in something like big cardboard boxes to give the chicks a bit more shelter at first.

I didn’t mean to high-jack this post, apologies to the author!

It's usually better to start your own post rather than adding on to someone else's, but I don't think it caused any real problems.

I know some other forums prefer to add to existing threads, but on backyardchickens we like separate threads because even people with the "same" question might need different answers (like moving different numbers of chicks out to a different coop, with different weather.)

 

[DobieLover]

Basement has been at 50, they use to be under a heat lamp, but I started at 4 weeks pulling it further and further away from the area. Now they do not sleep with a heat lamp, but they do huddle on their pallet roosts that I put in the brooder. I do have 50 chicks currently in the brooder, so I’m guessing they are keeping eachother warm when roosting, but the coop is rather large and has a lot of open space.

I didn’t mean to high-jack this post, apologies to the author!

I wouldn't hesitate to put them out in the coop with the forecast temperatures.
They are fully feathered and don't need a heat source.
I would just give them a huddle box to hunker down in. Pick a box large enough to fit all the pullets when the box is on it's side. Tear/cut off the side and bottom flaps and leave the top flap.
Tuck the box into a wind sheltered corner of the coop floor with the top flap hanging down and burrow it into the bedding then add a thick layer of dry bedding to the box. When you bring the pullets out, put them all in or near the box so they know it's there.
When you do the last check on them just before dusk when they should be heading into the coop, make sure they all find the box.
You can also let them hide in the nest boxes for the time being but this can be a bad habit to break and your lower ranking girls might want to keep sleeping in them as they get older.