Is it too cold for my chicks outside in the coop?

[stormylady]

Its going to get down to 56 degrees tonight, they youngest chicks are 10 weeks old going all the way up to 22 weeks, The youngest chicks have been outside for 2 weeks now, and they have been fine with no light or heat, but its been really warm to . tonight will be a big difference for them, will they be alright. All the youngest one still cuddle together at night so do I let them go with out the heat, or do I go and put a heat lamp in there for them? Thanks for the advice. Sandy

 

[ozark hen]

Sandy, I have some chooks about that age, too. I have deep litter in their coop and they have no heat now and yes, it did get down into the upper fifties this week. they were fine. Matter of fact they had six turkeys (who are ten weeks old)roosting with them. All were fine. They didn't even roost on the floor in the deep litter.

 

[Peeplperson]

Mine are 11 weeks, our nights regularly get down in the low 50's, and I turned off my heat lamp a few weeks ago when a neighbor pointed out that the heat lamp was on for ME, and not them. He was right:

 

[ozark hen]

yes, that is so true. We tend to over-protect now don't we? I know I was afraid to turn my turkeys loose in the daytime. No problem!! I won't allow them to roost up high during the nights outside though, I don't feel that their wings are strong enough yet to get away from predators. When they see me coming with the broom they get down and scurry into the coop. LOL

 

[stormylady]

Thanks everyone and i trust your judgements! I guess I will let them tough it out! But Im going to be a nervous wreck till morning when I go out to let them out! LOL They do have deep litter in the coop, but the windows are open and covered with hardware cloth, so I cant close them. I left them open for extra ventilation for the summer, but now Im wishing I put the plexi glass up over them now! Oh well theirwell feathered out and stay huddled overnights so....... They just seem so small and helpless! Dang weather, it could have eased into cooler temps. than going directly from 105 degrees to 56 degrees in a matter of two days! Ohhhh this is gonna be hard!

Thanks again , Sandy

 

[newchicksnducks]

They should do fine, stormylady. My 3 EE have been outside without their heat lamp for almost 2 weeks. They are now 9 weeks old. We use the deep litter method, and I would find them snuggled into the fresh shavings...that's when our nights were 70+ degrees. We're going through cold spell now, with 50's at night. Now they've decided they are "big girls" and use the roosts...no snuggling in the deep shavings - go figure. But the birds are well feathered. If they were cold, they'd go back to the shavings I'm sure. We also have 2 windows we leave open (w/hardware cloth screen) to keep the ventilation up.

 

[ozark hen]

Yep, they will be fine. We have windows covered in hardware cloth too and no other covering, except in winter we use plastic over them. Those little guys will be healthier for it let me tell you. They have wonderful feathering to keep them snuggly warm.

 

[stormylady]

You all were right! They were fine when I opened the pop door for them this morning, all came runnning out as usual! Im sure I looked more haggard than them this morning! No sleep will do that too ya! LOL Well all except little Bailey girl (Sal. Fav.) 13 weeks old but she can't get out by herself yet! She is sooo cute just hopping up and peeping at the door till I reach in and pick er up and help her out! She looks like a little kid trying to watch the movie behind a bunch of heads in a theater!
Thanks Everybody!! Don't think I would have made it thru the night without ya!