Freakin' Out!

[lizzy06019]

Our chicks are 4 weeks old and were pretty much outgrowing their brooder. So this morning, my husband and I moved them out to their coop. I'm so scared it's too cold out there for them. We live in CT where it's been warm lately (like 60's). It looks like we're going through a cold spell again though. It's going to get down to 23 tonight, only 40 tomorrow and in the 20's tomorrow night. They have 2 heat lamps in there, food and water and about a 6 inch pine shaving bedding. There's 26 of them and I've noticed they're huddling a lot... they do spread out to investigate, eat and run around but I'm worried that it'll just get too cold in there for them tonight. I have a wireless thermometer in there that I can monitor the air temp from our house. Right now the air temp is reading 49 degrees. I don't know what it is under the heat lamp though. Any suggestions, advice or comments to assure me they'll be ok would be appreciated. Or please tell me if I should bring my babies back inside. Please help, I'm kinda freakin out!

 

[Kittymomma]

As long as they're draft free they should be fine. Are they doing a lot of peeping while they're huddled up? They could just be sticking close together because everything is new and a bit scary.

mamma, your babies are growing up.

 

[lizzy06019]

I've been checking on them a lot and they seem to be peeping a bit. I wouldn't say a lot but more than usual. I guess it could be because they're still checking out their new home. I'm still worried about them and could use more opinions

 

[Chickenteacher]

You should be able to tell if they are cold....they will huddle up together in a corner....reeeallly huddle....like cramming themselves on top of each other.....and they look miserable......as long as they can get under the heat lamp and out of the wind, they should be fine....at 4 weeks they should have their feathers, right?

 

[RAWR]

you can put their heat lamp out there with them

 

[newchik715]

I moved mine out almost two weeks ago. They are now almost 6 weeks but they were four weeks when they moved out. temps get in the low 20's at night here and the grass and car windows frost over. They are fine. They are even sleeping on the roost instead of under their heat lamp some nights. I also only have six birdies and only one heat lamp and mine are really doing fine. I still check constantly though...i wonder if i will ever get over that?

 

[lizzy06019]

They have 2 heat lamps out there with them. I also wanted to add their coop is draft free but has a lot of ventilation near the roof. The walls are 4-6 feet tall (it's a slanted roof) so the chicks won't get high enough for that to be an issue. I just hope the 2 heat lamps are enough to keep them warm. They're pretty feathered by now. Some of them look to be completely feathered, others look like they're still getting the feathers along their backs, necks and heads. I hope they'll be OK

 

[lizzy06019]

Quote:
I wonder that too. It's like being a new mom all over again! I didn't think I'd be this worried about them but I AM! I think it'll be a long sleepless night tonight. My DH even put a wireless camera in the coop so we could watch them on our TV in the livingroom. Unfortunately, it doesn't get great reception and I can't pet them through the TV so I end up walking down to the coop instead.

 

[felidaet]

If they seem cold you might want to consider where the heat lamps are setup. Remember that heat rises. If they are hanging near the ceiling most of the heat is probably going out your vents. You also should put the thermometer where it is picking up the temperature near the floor under the lamps.

 

[nanawendy]

Do you get up @ night too