Can I move 2 week old chicks into playpen brooder in 50-60 degree garage?

[PNW keeper]

I have a flock of 9 chicks (silkies, creme legbars, swedish isbars). I've had them in a plastic tote in my basement and they are quickly outgrowing that. I have a pet pen in the attached garage that I plan to set up. Temps in my garage tend to be mid 50s into the 60s. They'll have a brooder plate of course. But do these temps seem tolerable to them at this point? Basement is currently in the mid 60s.

Am I safe to move them out to the garage?

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

I would provide a heat source for another week or so. They just need a place to go warm up, similar to having a hen to run under when they get cold. But overall, they would be ok. I see you’re in the pnw, I put my chicks outside around 4 weeks old. Sometimes sooner. No heat.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

If I could just read entire posts! A brooder plate provided is the heat source I was referring to lol

 

[PNW keeper]

I would provide a heat source for another week or so. They just need a place to go warm up, similar to having a hen to run under when they get cold. But overall, they would be ok. I see you’re in the pnw, I put my chicks outside around 4 weeks old. Sometimes sooner. No heat.

Good to know, thanks. I do plan to provide the brooder heating plate in the garage as well.

 

[PNW keeper]

If I could just read entire posts! A brooder plate provided is the heat source I was referring to lol

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Oh and welcome to BYC!

 

[LLvida]

I was going to ask the same thing and I’m in Portland! My week olds are still in the kitchen in a big metal dog crate with two red heat lamps above the crate. Thinking of moving them into the garage, but they are happy at 88 in the house. Hard to decide!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I was going to ask the same thing and I’m in Portland! My week olds are still in the kitchen in a big metal dog crate with two red heat lamps above the crate. Thinking of moving them into the garage, but they are happy at 88 in the house. Hard to decide!

They need both a cool area and a warm area. 2 heat lamps seems excessive. If the entire brooding area is 88, it's more heat than they need.

 

[LLvida]

Thank you! Heat lamp is on one side where the temp gauge is. They can move to the other side of the crate if they want to! I don’t have a covered area anymore as they are loving roosting on branches I put through the bars. I could change that though!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you! Heat lamp is on one side where the temp gauge is. They can move to the other side of the crate if they want to! I don’t have a covered area anymore as they are loving roosting on branches I put through the bars. I could change that though!

What's the temperature in the cool side, since you know the hotter side reading? Optimally you want a noticeable difference, like 10F or more.

As a point of reference, I brood my chicks outdoors. The majority of the brooder is about 60s in the day, 40s at night. You'd be surprised at how often even 2-3 day old chicks aren't under their heat source during the day when given the choice.