First night outside, should I ignore if they cry?

[Mike521]

Hi all, our 5-to-6 week old chicks tend to call/chirp (cry) to us at dusk when it's time to come inside for the night. But in general it seems like they're ready to stay out. Should I ignore them if they cry? I'm worried it might mean they're cold.

Some details:

Our daytime temps are maxing out at 80, nighttime temps around 65, and indoors our AC is set to 73 overnight. The chicks are used to spending all day outside in their chicken run, and they're (mostly) avoiding their heater when we bring them inside at night. Some of them do wind up under the heater, but I think that's more because their bin is crowded now that they're getting bigger. We're using one of those brooder heating plate things that they can crawl under for warmth if they want.

Their outdoor coop is in their chicken run, and so far they haven't discovered that they can walk up the walkway and go inside. So we're going to gather them up and put them inside at dusk, and close the door. I'm not sure how they'll react to that..

So should we ignore them if they start crying? Should I run an extension cord to their coop and put the heater in?

It'll be 5 - 10 degrees colder than they're used to (maybe more, the heater must keep their bin warmer than the 73 our AC is set to).

I might run an extension cord anyway and put a security camera, even if just for the first few nights, for our own peace of mind. So adding the heater for a night or two won't be a big deal, and I'll be able to spy on them and see if they're using it..

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

If they're fully feathered out it shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes I will put a small box they can huddle in but I have kicked chicks out out of the brooder at much lower temps than that

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have kicked chicks out out of the brooder at much lower temps than that

x2. Assuming they're all healthy with regular feathering they would've been fine with your outside low temps 2 weeks ago.

Yes, after ensuring they're tucked into the coop for the night, walk away and ignore their crying. And plan for a time to teach them how to get into the coop, assuming you're using a ramp, as chickens don't instinctively use ramps.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would not recommend using a camera right away. You'd be able to hear them crying and possibly may not be able to resist "rescuing" them. Put them to bed, then you go to bed. All will be well. In the morning you'll see that they survived just fine. Remember, they may be your babies, but they are also birds. And nature does not provide heaters for birds in the wild. Maybe after three nights you could put a camera in there. By then they will have adjusted, and you'll see them all snuggled together on the floor in a cute little "cuddle puddle," sleeping peacefully.

In fact, that cuddle puddle is one reason why they don't need a heater. They'll keep each other plenty warm.

 

[Mike521]

Thanks all! since this is my first time raising chicks I just want to be sure about what's safe to ignore We'll probably leave them outside either tonight or tomorrow

 

[Ridgerunner]

65 is the temperature that matters and at that age they can easily handle that.

Chickens don't like change. They are used to sleeping inside so they want to get inside. You need to change that habit. You can lock them inside that coop every day at bedtime and they should eventually get the message. My grow-out coop is elevated and it sometimes takes a while of consistently putting them to bed every night before they realize they need to put themselves to bed in that coop.

Unless you have Silkies or others that can't fly yours should be old enough to fly up to the pop door if they don't want to use the ramp. Mine often do. It's a matter of how badly they want to get inside the coop, not a matter of whether they can get up there. But be consistent and they will catch on.

 

[Mike521]

65 is the temperature that matters and at that age they can easily handle that.

now the weather says it's gonna be 61 tonight lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had chicks 5-1/2 weeks old go through nights in the mid-20's Fahrenheit. That's below freezing. Yours are not acclimated but I'd be comfortable with mine outside at 5 weeks in the low 40's Fahrenheit even if they were not acclimated.

If you are that nervous don't do it. It's not worth you getting ulcers. But mine would have been outside with no heat before now.

 

[Mike521]

@Ridgerunner I know you're right, and I agree, I'm just joking

Initially I never even planned to keep them in the house, we were expecting to get them from the store already big enough to be outside with no heat. There was a screw-up or a miscommunication somewhere, and now we're used to them being safe and warm in the house lol. It was much easier when I worked on a farm and the chickens were free-range - any chicks we had were hatched out by momma hens and we just let them do their thing

What's also funny is I'm still convincing my fiance that they don't need heat through the winter

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm still convincing my fiance that they don't need heat through the winter

Lol. Years ago when my city-living mother moved in next door to me, she wanted to knit sweaters for my poor freezing chickens ... who had been surviving NW NM winters for years all on their own. I told her to go right ahead and that was the last I heard of it. (Shaking my head.)