Is it too cold for baby chicks?

[teach1rusl]

I don't think the issue will be when the chicks are tiny, assuming you're able to maintain a warm temp in the storage tote/brooder. I guess I see more issues with what accomodations will you be making for them when they outgrow the tote (which would be pretty quickly), but aren't fully feathered enough to withstand our winter temps?? Do you have a larger area for them when they're 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks old (because some are slow to mature/feather out) where they can still take advantage of heat?? Because they will outgrow one of those plastic storage bins pretty quickly... I'd opt to wait till spring, but I know that's easier said than done sometimes...

 

[95yj]

so long as you can keep the brooder warm enough and keep drafts out the exterior temperature doesn't really matter. you might want to try setting it up and running it for a couple days to get the temperatures established. it also might help to put some insulation around the tub [ex. put it in a larger tub and fill the gap with packing peanuts or the like] I'v also found that temperature preferance among chicks can vary widely so i like to find a base temperature of 95 ish and then closely moniter the chicks for a couple days to see if their spreading out or huddling under the heat. Baby chicks are tougher than people give them credit for, to prepare my meat chicks for living outside in new england in mid may i cut out all heat in my unheated basement at about 2.5-3 weeks, as a result they feathered out faster and adapted to the cold much quicker.

 

[TrystInn]

If I may suggest - get a thermometer with a base and remote so you can check the temperature in the brooder. A friend of mine lost a whole batch when the lamp died.

 

[farmin'chick]

You can get a thermometer/hygrometer for about 10 bucks at Walmart that will show you the high and low temp registered (just pull the batteries out and put them right back to reset it) if you want to see how the temp holds overnight before you decide.