Is 60-65 too cold for a 6 week old bantam?

[al6517]

I think that proper planning as you are on the right track is critical. Get them in the coop as planned and supply plenty of hollow core straw hay which holds warm air better and prevent draft's. They should be just fine and keep an eye out, they will adjust. So many folks don't think this process through and hence they lose so many birds due to the chickens inability to acclumate properly, and baby'ing them to death. A chickens ability to thrive in an assortment of different temps depends greatly on their owners doing it right from the start, they will be better for it.

AL

 

[Lisa202]

Thanks for all your replies.

TigerJane: 60-65 are days...45 are nights. The coop is very well made , but not insulated...just regular wood walls. If I wait 2 more weeks (8 weeks) the temps will be 54 high-36 low. Should I wait? 45 nights just might be a little to cold for 6 weekers. But then is 36 nights too cold for 8 weekers? I'm so confused.

 

[nifty50chick]

I think Al hit the nail on the head, it's all about allowing them to aclimate. I think if I move them out there (no drafts) at 3 to 4 weeks, keep the heat lamp on them but allow them a larger space to move about, they will adjust and i should be able to remove the lamp in early Nov.
Does that sound logical?

 

[Lisa202]

Hi Nifty,
I think if you have heat in the coop you should be fine when they're a little older. But I think 3 weeks is too young to be acclimating. They should have at least 85 at 3 weeks. Every thing that I have read says that you can put them out at 4-6 weeks, but then they don't talk about heat in the coop. I did read that you don't want to put heat in the coop (unless it's freezing and you want to bring it up to 25) so that they don't get used to it. I think I'd wait a little longer.

 

[chickie<3]

Hi Lisa...i too am on long island and have 2 13 week old pullets already in the coop and 5 3 week olds in the brooder in the garage..i'm worried about putting them out in October too...I'm thinking about waiting 2 extra weeks so their feathers can grow in more...and hopefully keep them warmer.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If you are going from controlled temps to a coop with no light bulb and lower nighttime temps, I think they will really suffer.

I feel that the nighttime temps will be too low for your babies unless you run a light bulb for them to huddle under at night (which is what I did for my chicks until they were 5 1/2 weeks old- they are now almost 7 weeks old). They were trying to "get away" from their 60 watt bulbs at 5 1/2 weeks.)

I had them at "brooder temps" until 3 weeks, then out to free range during the day, with a free choice heat lamp available at all times. They went in and out of their coops as they desired.

Our nighttime temps have been down as low as the 50's where I am. After awhile they get used to the cooler temps. It also depends on how many chicks you have huddling.

If they are piling up, they are cold. My almost 7 week olds still huddle up at night, but are gaining weight, and are free from drafts. I won't run any more light bulbs for them anymore once they are fully feathered, since I want them to get their winter down. Our colder weather is coming soon.

Baby them that extra couple of weeks, with a free choice light bulb, if you can do it safely without fire risk.

My opinion is that with winter coming, you want that weight gain on them so they can better handle the coming real cold weather. They probably won't gain as much weight if they are struggling to stay warm.

My summary: if your chicks are coming from continuous brooder temps. that are stable, putting them outside in those temps without a free choice light bulb to huddle under would be too cold. In other words, some adjustment is necessary to those outdoor nighttime temps. Keeping them in the garage for a couple of weeks would be a good second option if you don't want a light bulb in your coop (understandable from risk of fire).