Is 37 too cold for 4 wk old chicks?

[Peaches Lee]

Put my Golden Comet pullets out in a larger brooder in the barn. They have a brooder lamp, hay, shavings, but it's going to get down to 37. Should I move them back into their smaller coop in the garage for tonight? Thanks for any input.

 

[debid]

They have a heat lamp, they're fine. It was 38 here this morning and the only chicks under the lamp were the ones that were sleeping.

 

[Life is Good!]

Depends on how much feather coverage they have and how many you have total.
If there are just two or three, I'd say cover them to help hold heat in.
If it's more than 10, they'll likely be fine.

My own 5wk olds survived a 32 degree outside (55 degree air temp, 75 degree under heat lamp) just fine two nights ago. Although I did get a better light for them today, it's now cold AND rainy here in Illinois.

 

[Peaches Lee]

OK thanks. There is 14 of them. One was under the lamp, and the rest were in all the other corners of their brooder. I did feel their bodies and they seemed warm. I think they have pretty good feather. I will just keep an eye on them.

 

[debid]

I'll add that I'm using 100W infrared heat lamp hung low (~16") for chilly nights and my chicks currently range in age from 2 weeks to 4. I never, ever cover their brooder. Ever. The sides are solid wood and the top is hardware cloth. They need ventilation now as much as they will as adults. "Holding in the heat" is completely unnecessary when you're using an adequate infrared heat lamp (it heats the chicks themselves, not the air).

 

[Peaches Lee]

Just an update to say that my little chicklets did well on their first night out in the big coop. They used their heat lamp. They seem to love the new open space and things to do. Thank you all for help and input.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Congrats!

They are "big girls" now.

 

[jujubee]

I had the same thing going on. My 4 and 5 wek olds went out to the "grow out" trailer. This last week. Its a old livestock trailer that works great as long as its not to cold. We also got back down into the 30"s the last couple of nights. ( boy do I miss South Texas) so I fired up the hanging brooder ( the kind with 3 bulbs but w 75 watt bulbs ) over a large 3 sided wooden box w/ a hole cut out on top for the heat to go into. I went out this morning and they all came running out of the box to get their food. No worse for wear.
Glad to hear your got through the night as well. Lets keep our fingers crossed that all this cold is over. Its May for goodness sakes!

 

[Peaches Lee]

Yes they are big girls now. This weather, ugh! Yes, definitely ready for SUMMER!!

 

[Nicole01]

My fully feathered 7 week olds would think so.

. I'm keeping them outside starting tonight. My girls have been fully feathered for a while now and they hate the cold. I don't have a heat lamp for them, it's being used by the second batch chicks. Darn chicken math.