Can I leave my chickies outside at night now?

[Jonny]

I have two chicks.. they are 2 months and 3 weeks... A BO pullet, and a Partridge Penedesenca cockerel. I live in NM and it gets around 32-36 at night. Is this too cold for the chicks? How cold can it be and how old do they have to be before I can leave them outside in their coop?

Hoping for some help! Thanks,

Jonny

 

[ginormous chicken]

Well... it depends where you live. I live in CA and it is 60 outside right now and my 6 week olds are outside w/o a light. They have their 9 week old buddies to sit on top of them to keep warm. It only drops down to 54 about 5 am. With that being said, your 8 week old is probably fine. But the 3 week old.... its too young and too cold! But your in a pickle b/c I wouldn't leave a single bird outside without company. Sooo... I think you are stuck waiting. IMO 3 weeks is way to young when it is in the 30's.

 

[Jonny]

I'm sorry... I didn't make that clear enough.. they are both 2months AND 3 weeks... 11 weeks.

 

[galanie]

I've been told they're generally fine as long as they're fully feathered out. So at their age, they should be ok.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

They could have been out quite a while ago. After they have all their feathers, they keep themselves warm. I was surprised when I put my australorps out for good at five weeks, that they like to be out in the rain and cold. There's a whole thread about it somewhere.

 

[Arielle]

WHen I put mine out at 8 weeks and fully feathered, the outside temps were much colder than inside, so I put in enough heat lamps to decrease the temps slowly;started with 2 then to one heat lamp, then only at night. The 20 degree drop in temp was tough and they huddled under the 2 lamps in one big feather mass; this lasted for several days. THen they started to acclimate. It's been about 3 weeks and I still put on the one heat lamp at night because our nights are cold high 20's to low 30's).

THey need a slow change from what they are used to to the new temps. Does this help? GL

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Quote:
I guess, but with a heat lamp for sure, that is way to cold for two little babies

 

[Wildflower_VA]

The chickens are almost three months old--way past little babies.

 

[Jonny]

Thank you all for your responses. I think I they will be fine from now on.. They are fully feathered and it seems like temperatures will not drop below 32 from now on.. hopefully! Ready to get them out of the house permanently! It's amazing how much two birds can poop and poop...