Is a temp of 50°f ok for 3-4 week meat birds?

[picklestheduck]

Not my birds just trying to help someone out. Day temps are 65-70°F night is mostly 50° and up, but some dip Down to 45 is this ok for them or do they need heat?

 

[David61]

heat until fully feathered . 5-6 weeks

 

[picklestheduck]

heat until fully feathered . 5-6 weeks

Even at these temps? What degree of heat should they have?

 

[David61]

The rule is subtract 5* each week until fully feathered.
95
90
84
80
75

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If mostly feathered they will be fine. Birds don't need constant heat rather a heat source to warm up. When too cold at night they will dog pile up causing some to perish.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Like the person above me, I'd say it's fine if mostly feathered. Last fall I put mine out at 3.5 weeks of age when they were mostly feathered,and the nights were 40-45 degrees. Just make sure you gradually wean them off their heat source before doing no heat.

I did provide a "huddle box" for the first week my chickens were outside, which I think helped. Just a box big enough for all of them, with one side cut out so they can get in on their own and snuggle up to each other for warmth. I put some pine shavings in the bottom of mine because they did poop in it.

 

[FunClucks]

I did CX that hatched in January and raised them in my garage till 4 wks old. Once they weren't so crazy about getting under the heat lamp around 3-4 wks they were good to go outside. However, there were about 20 of them to huddle for warmth. Some of them hadn't fully feathered by the time I processed them at 6 wks.

Their butts were bad about not feathering out quickly. I got my CX Rocks from Welp. Super healthy, just not really quick to feather.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some of them hadn't fully feathered by the time I processed them at 6 wks.

One problem with CX can be that the chicks grow so fast the feathers can't keep up. Doesn't seem to hurt them.