how cold is too cold for 6 week old chicks?

[Yay Chicks!]

When my birds first went into their coop last year, we had temps into the 40s as well. I worried too, but made sure there were no drafts and they did fine. I had a 60 watt red bulb in there for a bit, but I don't think they really needed it. They were out in their covered run during the day, so were protected from any rain.

 

[stllaura73]

Thanks all - I appreciate the feedback!

The girls do snuggle together at night, and there is no calling or peeping, so I guess I can assume they are warm enough. I might let them stay out in their coop tonight and check in on them a couple times before bed to make sure they are ok (it is supposed to be low 40's again tonight).

And then I need to just get on with it - I do recognize they are going to have to get used to the temps, and the good news is this should be the last cold snap. Though there is more rain coming (argh!!) at least it will be back into the 70's during the day and 50's at night.

Thanks to all of you!! Have a great day!

Laura

 

[7L Farm]

Here this should ease your mind. Here's a picture of my iddy's in their coop at 7 days old & this was in Feb so the nights were cold. They all survived & are doing quite well. They are now 2 months old.

 

[7L Farm]

And here they are again

 

[stllaura73]

7L Farm - how cute!

Well the girls seem like they are doing fine. I just went out to check and they are working out the sleeping arrangement for the night. They are still playing pile on, trying to figure out who is on bottom, but they seem to be settling in ok. I'll check once more before bed - you know, just to make sure!!

They were hilarious tonight - they are just learning how to climb the ramp up into the house. It was quite funny. I never knew I would enjoy these girls so much!!

Thanks everyone - have a good night!

Laura

 

[3crazychicksOH]

I had the very same question, when is it to cold for chicks to be outside in coop/run...I worry about my girls too! ( 3 buff orps., 3 blk lorps) They are going on 7 weeks and in Ohio we still get some pretty low temps for late March! thanks for all the advise from everyone, very helpful!

Here are my girls in their booder box (outgrowing quickly....every time I open it up...they try and fly out! that was a good indication that they are ready to fly the brooder box into their coop...

 

[Angelight]

I also came searching for advice for this age and low temps. The temp was in the 70s (F) while I was working on the coop so I took the lamp out. I used it the first night they were out there, off and on, then used it the second night to pre-heat the coop, but haven't used it since. I didn't expect us to reach freezing again. Well, here I am running around trying to cover up my garden from frost and wondering if my babies (because they are my babies) will freeze to death in a coop without insulation and heat. I hope to goodness that they'll be fine. I followed some of the advice on here speaking to the lack of necessity for chicks to be as warm as the hatcheries say, etc. I hope to goodness it is all good advice and worked because it will be in the low 30s in a few hours. EEEEEEK. I'm so nervous!

 

[4 the Birds]

We use 6 weeks for the age before they are introduced to the "outside world" from the confines of the brooder. If the nights go below 50 degrees F then they have a brooder lamp in their coop isolation area. After 2 more weeks then they are fully feathered and they can join the flock! Hope this Helps!

6 week olds checking out the flock

In the Brooder

 

[Angelight]

What breeds are those, 4 the birds? Mine have had the majority of their feathers for about 2 weeks.

Thankfully, they seem to be doing well despite freezing temperatures last night and no heat provided. I'm worried about tonight, though. It might get a little colder. Poor baby birds.

 

[4 the Birds]

What breeds are those, 4 the birds? Mine have had the majority of their feathers for about 2 weeks.

Thankfully, they seem to be doing well despite freezing temperatures last night and no heat provided. I'm worried about tonight, though. It might get a little colder. Poor baby birds.

The beige are Buff Orpingtons and the blacks are Plymoth Rocks. Great Birds! Mild mannered and good egg layers. You should be OK as long as they have a draft free coop area that they can huddle together. I like to do the brooder lamp for just a few weeks in the coop since they are in a new place and had a lamp brooder. They should be fine without.