how cold is too cold?

[butterfly lady]

Greetings from Houston TX....I know this is an age old question, but here goes again....i hatched 8 chicks the first of Jan....they are quite large and are fully feathered. Usually the weather here in S.Tx is much warmer this time of year but the days are mid 50s and nights are 30s.....ive had the chicks outside alot during the day but i bring them into the garage at night under their heat lamp.....the coop i have has a fully enclosed area, off the ground, very nice for wet weather too but i have no electricity out there at the moment. So should i continue to bring them in when the temps get colder? all my big chickens (their mommas and poppas) are outside full time in an identical coop.....thanks for ALL the wonderful advice im praying to get!!!

 

[sourland]

You might try bringing them into the garage for a week or so without the heat lamp and gauge how they do. If they handle that well, then start leaving them out overnight.

 

[butterfly lady]

that is a brilliant idea!!!!!! ive turned their lamp off when it was too hot....thank you!!