Do my chicks need heat at 22* tonight?

[QChickieMama]

My chicks were hatched 1/1/17 (so they're 2.5 months). I've had them outdoors for about 3 weeks now. I live in central NC with moderate winters. They had a heat lamp on for the cold nights, but honestly, they roost far away from the heat lamp.

Now that we're having cold temps again, down to 22*, I am thinking they need their heat again.

Tonight the rain leaked through a tarp and ruined the heat lamp. Should I rig new heat for them tonight or not?

 

[PD-Riverman]

My chicks were hatched 1/1/17 (so they're 2.5 months). I've had them outdoors for about 3 weeks now. I live in central NC with moderate winters. They had a heat lamp on for the cold nights, but honestly, they roost far away from the heat lamp.

Now that we're having cold temps again, down to 22*, I am thinking they need their heat again.

Tonight the rain leaked through a tarp and ruined the heat lamp. Should I rig new heat for them tonight or not?

If you got a place out the wind, out the rain, they will be fine! And no metal roost poles----them can give them some cold feet.

 

[QChickieMama]

If you got a place out the wind, out the rain, they will be fine! And no metal roost poles----them can give them some cold feet.

Shouldn't rain tonight. As for the wind, they have a tarp roof and tarp on two adjacent walls, but they roost where they roost, some of them away from the tarp's protection. The wind chill will be down to 8*. Gee, I'm nervous.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Shouldn't rain tonight. As for the wind, they have a tarp roof and tarp on two adjacent walls, but they roost where they roost, some of them away from the tarp's protection. The wind chill will be down to 8*. Gee, I'm nervous.

You already said they roosted way away from the heat lamp when you had it on-----it would not do any good to have it on again---unless you had a tight coop that you were trying to heat. Again I feel you will be fine. Chickens can puff up to make their down coat as thick as they need it. It will probably be below 25 here tonight too.

 

[birds4kids]

Wind chill doesn't matter if they are out of the wind. If it makes you feel better and it was just the heat bulb that is shot put an incandescent bulb in.

 

[QChickieMama]

You already said they roosted way away from the heat lamp when you had it on-----it would not do any good to have it on again---unless you had a tight coop that you were trying to heat. Again I feel you will be fine. Chickens can puff up to make their down coat as thick as they need it. It will probably be below 25 here tonight too.

OK. Great. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[aart]

My chicks were hatched 1/1/17 (so they're 2.5 months). I've had them outdoors for about 3 weeks now. I live in central NC with moderate winters. They had a heat lamp on for the cold nights, but honestly, they roost far away from the heat lamp.

Now that we're having cold temps again, down to 22*, I am thinking they need their heat again.

Tonight the rain leaked through a tarp and ruined the heat lamp. Should I rig new heat for them tonight or not?

Securing the tarp, or replacing with something more sturdy, is way more important than putting up a heat lamp.
Was 14F here last night, but my birds are in a solid wind and waterproof coop.

 

[QChickieMama]

Securing the tarp, or replacing with something more sturdy, is way more important than putting up a heat lamp.
Was 14F here last night, but my birds are in a solid wind and waterproof coop.

It's a chain-link dog run with one side used for the roof. Tarp was for rain, but I had no idea how much the weather would shred them.

 

[PD-Riverman]

It's a chain-link dog run with one side used for the roof. Tarp was for rain, but I had no idea how much the weather would shred them.

Tarps are only temporary as you have found out----these cheaper ones anyway. Sure you can order high dollar tarps that will last years if they do not get holes torn in them, But I would just find some used tin and fix the problem. Wet chickens are dead chickens if its freezing and they can not dry.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s morning. How did they do?

Could you please post a photo so we can get a better idea of your set-up and where they slept? How cold was it? That could be educational.