how cold is too cold for 6 week old chicks?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I'm planning to have them locked up in their coop for about a week or two. It's well ventilated and will keep them protected. I expect they will get used to it and be liking it by the time the run is complete. Then I'll open the run to them. I hope that works for getting them back in at night, but these are my first two chickens so they are part of my " learning curve"...poor things! Lucky for them (and lucky for me) I have the BYC community to go to . I have ten more chicks coming in a couple of weeks. Really looking forward to it!

This will work perfectly. Enjoy your birds!

 

[The Momma]

Ya'll are so wonderful. I was nervous about leaving my girls and boys out tonight but at 6 weeks they have been outside since 4 weeks and love it. We have an open air coop and I have been concerned about overnight temps in 40s. Our coop and chicken yard are fully enclosed. They love their blue plastic bin and with shavings in it - they love it more!! I am hoping they will use their ramp soon and start being up instead of on the ground.

Thanks for all the great discussions. I am learning sooooo much.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

From what I have read they will adjust if fully feathered and are allowed to GRADUALLY adjust to dropping temps. But moving them in and out with such drastic changes on and off of temps can weaken them.

Like Fred said gradual weaning of the heat/light to let them adjust to the weather is best.

 

[Beans513]

I had the same worries with my temps being in the 40's at night but I went out all night looking at them and they seem comfortable and mine are 5 weeks, I just noticed they have their feathers ruffled but seem ok. I worry the same way you do. I have a problem though I do not know how to handle. I have 6 full grown Americana hens and 3 particular ones beat the hell out of each others and the other hens, I tried to introduce my chicks to them and they beat on the to badly, it seems one goes out of her way to beat them, I have had to physically go after them to get them to stop and they wont stop cracking their eggs. They are hateful. what can I do? I put 4 of them on Craigslist to get them out of here.

 

[Beans513]

Is this chick a hen or roo? This is a Black Frizzle Cochin

 

[MkePainter]

I assure you, 40 degrees is more than warm enough for chicks! We are here in Wisconsin and we bring the chickens inside to the garage, which stays approx 40 degrees, ONLY when the temperatures drop to below 5°F. Our 6-week old chicks were cranky but healthy through it all. No heat lamp. We insulated the coop with bubble wrap and cardboard and lots of papershreds and pine shavings... careful to allow ventilation of course. There are lots of helpful articles for winterizing chicken coops! I've learned a ton! Trust me, after going in and out to open the chicken coop on a 10° morning, all bundled up... a post about 40 degrees seems almost funny! Note: this really only applies to cold-hardy chickens of course.

 

[Welshies]

Mine are in -40° temp, albeit a little older at 8 weeks. 9 chicks all huddle in the nest boxes and they stay warm free of drafts.

 

[MkePainter]

Mine are in -40° temp, albeit a little older at 8 weeks. 9 chicks all huddle in the nest boxes and they stay warm free of drafts.

Ha! See? It's amazing how hardy these birdies are.

 

[OF65]

My bantams we're severely chilled when they arrived on an extremely cold February 7. They have continued to seemingly chill. They are out in their coop for the third night. It is 8x8 with windows on the north and south. Ventilation on the north an south peak. Low E insulation over all the building. They like it out there but not at night. They seem to chill with 50 in the coop. I know they have to get used to it.. but they did some serious piling last night. I wonder if it has any thing to do with the hard chilling they got in shipment.

 

[aart]

My bantams we're severely chilled when they arrived on an extremely cold February 7. They have continued to seemingly chill. They are out in their coop for the third night. It is 8x8 with windows on the north and south. Ventilation on the north an south peak. Low E insulation over all the building. They like it out there but not at night. They seem to chill with 50 in the coop. I know they have to get used to it.. but they did some serious piling last night. I wonder if it has any thing to do with the hard chilling they got in shipment.

How old are they?
This thread is about 6 weeks old chicks...is that what yours are?