Draft vs ventilation

[jswalker]

This might be a dumb question, but what's the difference? My chicks are 5 weeks old (feathered out quite a bit) and I am wanting to put them outside on our screened in porch with a heat lamp. Are they too young? Lows in the mid 50's highs between 70's-80's. They are in a bathtub box with shavings and the top will be open, so is that considered a draft or just ventilation? First time chicken mom and I'm trying to do the right thing, just confused and Hubby is ready for them to be out of the house (although I'm going to miss them

! Thanks for all the help!

 

[elmo]

Welcome to the forum.

Think of a draft as wind chill. If air can blow over the chicks, it can cause them to lose body heat. Given sufficient chilling, they can die. If the sides of the brooder that you'd be putting them in outdoors are solid, then you shouldn't have windchill/drafts to be concerned about, as long as the heat lamp provides sufficent warmth.

What's the temperature they're used to right now in the indoor brooder? You would not want there to be a sudden, dramatic change from the temperature they're used to.

One other thing to think about. A screened in porch is not secure from predators. I've read about many people who've had birds killed when left on screened in porches.

 

[jswalker]

Thanks so much for your answer! That is what I was thinking about the draft, but I wasn't totally sure and didn't want to just "think" and take the risk of something happening.

About being safe, even if they are in a box with a lid, and there are no holes in the screen and the door is locked, you think they are still at risk? I don't know, that's why I am asking. I don't ever want to put them at risk. Thanks for the help !