Help!! Is it going to be too cold tonight??

[IRo]

I just got my first chickens yesterday and they are 6 weeks old. It is supposed to get down to 27 deg. tonight and I am worried that it is going to be too cold for them. I have about 4 inches of bedding in their coop and last night they slept all huddled together. Will they be warm enough? Advice please!!

 

[Dorothy1324]

i think you should defently put a light on for them to keep them warm If you have a brooder light that would be great and a 100 wt light bulb hung right over where they are sleeping at 6 wks that temp is way too cold

 

[ranchhand]

They need a heat lamp, for sure. Anything that will give them abot 70 degrees will do, and also have some room so they can move away if it gets too hot. Generally, unless they are fully feathered, they're aren't quite ready for the great outdoors.

 

[chickenman33]

it is neasery for chicks to have a heat lamp to keep them warm.

 

[gumpsgirl]

They absolutely will need a heat lamp with temps. being that low. You will also need to box off an area so keep them near the heat lamp.

If you don't have one available, then you will have to bring them inside for the night.

 

[birdlover]

How many do you have? I vote for bringing them in the house if you don't have the necessary heat. I'm in Va. and I'd say it was too cold during the day for 6 week old chicks.

 

[IRo]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I brought them in last night and they are happy. Unfortunately, I really didn't have a good "set up" for their temporary housing except an old blanket and a small animal playpen in the spare bedroom. What a mess this morning!! But they did not freeze, so I'm happy.

The water in their coop did not freeze last night, so it probably didn't get as cold as I thought it would. They spent the night before outside and it was down in the low 30's, and seemed to do okay. They are just about fully feathered so I may be a littled overprotected, but hey I'm a NEW MOM!!

I'll take it day by day until night temps really warm up.

Thanks again.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Glad to hear that everything worked out with them last night.

 

[LynneP]

You may feel better about these chicks if you give them a warm box, such as a wooden orange crate in the coop. Also, put in a baby roost made of 4x4 or 2x4, they'll appreciate the huddle space and since they are at an age when they like to organize in a row, the baby roost will encourage that.

 

[birdlover]

Whew! So glad to hear it! I actually woke up this morning and was worried a little! LOL