How cold is too cold for 8 week chicks?

[momto6Ls]

We have an American game hen that hatched 4 chicks 8 weeks ago. We separated her from the flock, although they share a fence and the chicks scoot in and out under the fence and the other hens have never bothered them.

These chicks have been raised in a corner of the run, basically, and are free range (because of small holes in the fence, lol).

Tonight will be 18 degrees F. These guys do NOT go in the coop at night. They have a shelter overhead and are with mom in a nest, but no heat available. It was 30 degrees last night and I wasn't worried, but 18? That's got me a little nervous. How cold can they take at 8 weeks? My husband thinks they are fully feathered.

 

[DobieLover]

We have an American game hen that hatched 4 chicks 8 weeks ago. We separated her from the flock, although they share a fence and the chicks scoot in and out under the fence and the other hens have never bothered them.

These chicks have been raised in a corner of the run, basically, and are free range (because of small holes in the fence, lol).

Tonight will be 18 degrees F. These guys do NOT go in the coop at night. They have a shelter overhead and are with mom in a nest, but no heat available. It was 30 degrees last night and I wasn't worried, but 18? That's got me a little nervous. How cold can they take at 8 weeks? My husband thinks they are fully feathered.

Your husband is correct. They ARE fully feathered and they will be just fine and dandy provided they are in a draft free area.

 

[momto6Ls]

Your husband is correct. They ARE fully feathered and they will be just fine and dandy provided they are in a draft free area.

Thank you! It is already dark here. My husband put them in the rabbit room just to be safe. It will warm up tomorrow, so one night in there is fine.

Are they old enough to put in the coop with everyone yet? I want them to be safe. Mom still gets super ruffled when any hen gets near the fence. But I haven't seen any problem with the chicks who can go wherever they want. It seems backward to me that mom is locked in and the chicks are free range, but that's how my husband has it set up.

We live in a windy area, and draft free is pretty impossible.