Is it too cold to let chicks roost with their mother?

[TheMic434]

I have second time mom with 6 three-week old chicks. She wants to roost in the run with the other adults with her chicks. They all get onto the roost with her but they all don't fit underneath her wings. It has been in the low 60s and I've been going out and moving them all back into the brooder coop at night. But, if the mom thinks it is not too cold for them, should I trust that she knows what she is doing and let them stay out?

I think letting them stay out will help them integrate into the flock better. Her first batch about 6 months old now, still are not fully integrated into the flock, they kind of stick to themselves and get chased away but the older hens. Maybe if these babies are roosting with them they will be accepted as part of the flock?

But is it too cold?

 

[sourland]

At 3 weeks old they should be feathered well enough to handle temperatures well below 60 F.

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens know how to be chickens better than we know how to be chickens.

Trust mama's instincts.

 

[TheMic434]

Thanks! I thought I should let them do what is natural but I was not sure and I didn't want to risk the chicks getting too cold and dying. I read how important it is to have the chicks be warm when raising them in a brooder without a mom but it seems like these chicks are fine in lower temperatures.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think letting them stay out will help them integrate into the flock better. Her first batch about 6 months old now, still are not fully integrated into the flock, they kind of stick to themselves and get chased away but the older hens. Maybe if these babies are roosting with them they will be accepted as part of the flock?

Your first batch sounds typical. Until they mature enough to be fully accepted as equals, my immature chicks form a sub-flock and avoid the adults. Immature chickens rank lower in the pecking order and might get pecked if they invade the personal space of an adult, so they quickly learn to not invade that personal space. Usually about the time they start to lay my pullets are accepted by the adults.

My goal when integrating is that no one gets hurt. Sounds like you are there. All that buddy buddy one flock stuff can and will come later.

But is it too cold?

I agree with the others, it is not too cold.

 

[TheMic434]

I left them all in the run with the big girls, it was in the low 60s high 50s and they were fine in the morning. Thanks for the Advice!

 

[Roostergirl76]

awesome