getting feathers & overnight temperatures

[midwife mama]

I've read that once they are fully feathered they can go in the coop--but how do you know when they are "fully" feathered? Is it obvious?

Also, I suspect by the time my chicks reach that point we will still have freezing nighttime temps. Will they be OK to overnight in the coop at that point? Thanks!

 

[NoSkiveez]

According to what I have read, you start day old chicks at temps of 95*. You decrease the temp 5* a week until you are at 70*. Once your at 70* (6 weeks) they should be okay. HOWEVER, I still have mine with a heat lamp outside in the coop at night. If they want to be under it, its there for them. I finally took the heat lamp away from my silkies when they were 12 weeks and moved them into a bigger area and they will still try to come back into the chick pen and get under the heat lamp if I leave the door open long enough for them to get in.