Chicks in extreme heat ... question

[olivesmom]

We live in Phoenix. We lost a chick last night but after spending the day watching them with Terramycin added to the water I am feeling more optomistic.

These new family memebers are being kept in the guest bedroom in a storage type container with wood shavings and a heat lamp. Though this setting will work for the next week or so quickly they will need other arrangements.

What I am wondering is since we are in Phoenix and it is warm when can they move to the outdoor chicken coop? We have electricity so I could use the heat lamp but am worried after already losing one that they might not be strong enough. They are currently about 10 days old. Currently, we are having 85 - 90 during the day and low 60's at night.

Being a first time chicken owner I did not plan on a Brooder ?? I stupidly thought they could just go to the coop.

Thanks,

Charlotte
Olive's Mom

 

[raindrop]

If they have shade and good ventilation, I would say put them out at 3 weeks, with a heat lamp (100 watt would be fine) at night.
How warm is it in the coop when it is 90 outside? They may need to be in the coop and run right away to prevent overheating.

 

[olivesmom]

When you say they may need to be right away ... do you mean they need to go in ASAP to get use to the heat before it gets any hotter? It is going to be between 100 - 115 this summer ... will they need misters?

Thnaks,
Charlotte

 

[raindrop]

Many folks keep the chicks locked in the coop for a few days to get them used to where home is and where to sleep before they give them access to the run. In your case, I would worry if the coop got too hot all locked up.

I am sure they would appreciate misters in 110 degree weather. Egg production would probably be better too.

Hopefully someone who lives in your climate will chime in, we don't see much weather above 90 or 95 where I am. You might want to edit your title to something like "keeping chickens in 115 degree weather- housing questions."

 

[olivesmom]

Thanks for the suggestion. I made the edit.

Charlotte