Extension cord with brooder plate?

[macmac955]

I’ve been keeping my 6 week old buff Orpington chicks inside the coop for the night with no heat source (it was around 50 degrees last night). Tonight it’s supposed to be in the 40s and I’m wondering if I can run an extension cord down to the coop and plug the brooder plate in. (It’s the popular orange one off of Amazon) thoughts?

 

[Brooks_]

At 6 weeks and already not under heat, they will be fine.

 

[macmac955]

At 6 weeks and already not under heat, they will be fine.

I’ve only had them in the coop full time for one day (I forgot to mention). Will they still be alright?

 

[Brooks_]

Yes, I expect them to be fine. Coop is draft free?

 

[macmac955]

Yes, I expect them to be fine. Coop is draft free?

Yes, there’s a sliding window for airflow but I closed it at night.

 

[Brooks_]

Yes, there’s a sliding window for airflow but I closed it at night.

Airflow over their heads is considered fine. You just don't want a breeze directly on them - ruffling feathers, so to speak.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes, there’s a sliding window for airflow but I closed it at night.

Is that the only source of ventilation? You want a minimum of 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird open 24/7 in moderate climates (more in hotter climates). That's different than a draft, which is airflow directly on the birds hard enough to ruffle feathers.

As to the original question, 6 week olds should handle 40F just fine as long as they were weaned off heat in advance or given some time outside to acclimate to temps.

 

[macmac955]

Is that the only source of ventilation? You want a minimum of 1 sq ft of ventilation per bird open 24/7 in moderate climates (more in hotter climates). That's different than a draft, which is airflow directly on the birds hard enough to ruffle feathers.

As to the original question, 6 week olds should handle 40F just fine as long as they were weaned off heat in advance or given some time outside to acclimate to temps.

I bought a prefab coop. It only has this ventilation door.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I bought a prefab coop. It only has this ventilation door.

You're going to need to find a way to add more. What's your climate like? Can you get photos of the coop from different angles?

 

[macmac955]

You're going to need to find a way to add more. What's your climate like? Can you get photos of the coop from different angles?

Here are the pictures. There are small gaps between the nesting box door and the roof.