Lows in the 30s and my chicks

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Hey! Its me again. I have another question or maybe some reassurance. We bought a nice draft free amish coop for my 9 chicks who are just over 4 wks old. There is also straw in it. They have been doing great so far. I had a heat lamp hanging, securely, in it for night time if it got too cold. Then I read and article on here about chickens and cold weather that mentioned heating plates for chicks instead of heat lamps. So I got one of those instead just to realize its not going to work for them. So, my question is...the low next week is going to be a wide range with the coldest being 34. Will they be ok at night without a heat lamp? Or should I hook it back up? If I do put it in there, I only want to use it when its cold enough to use it, so what would that be? 30s? They have been enjoying their time outside running around in their own run. The highs have been in the 70s and 60s and I leave the coop open so they can go in if they want. They love being outside and laying in the sun!

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I would really make sure you lock up tight! We have a blanket hanging from the ceiling, and believe it or not it is 10-15 degrees warmer in the coop. You could also try the deep litter method for bedding. Overall it comes down to good insulation. Your chicks are a bit young, is there any way you can keep them in a garage or spare room for longer? I'd worry about lack of feathers. Most chickens seem to do alright in the cold in my experience if their coops are cared for properly. Lastly, I'd really be careful with your heating devices, because there is always the chance of coop fires. Good luck!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I think by then they will aclimate. I put my chicks out in 40 degree weather about that age but put some insulated foam above and below the little nesting box they were actually sleeping in, not the whole coop. I just had them in a little prefab and they did fine. There were 14 of them

 

[3KillerBs]

If they have all their feathers and have been acclimating to the temperatures as they fall they ought to be fine. If you've kept them on heat so far they need to acclimate.

At that age, with night lows down around 40, my most recent chicks refused to sleep in the sheltered corner, preferring to lay next to the mesh. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/setting-up-an-integration-facility.1496470/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/25-from-welp.1494343/page-8#post-25026644

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

I think by then they will aclimate. I put my chicks out in 40 degree weather about that age but put some insulated foam above and below the little nesting box they were actually sleeping in, not the whole coop. I just had them in a little prefab and they did fine. There were 14 of them

Thank you. I noticed this morning they were sleeping in a nesting box lol. I am going to add more straw today to prepare for the colder weather at the end of next week.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

I would really make sure you lock up tight! We have a blanket hanging from the ceiling, and believe it or not it is 10-15 degrees warmer in the coop. You could also try the deep litter method for bedding. Overall it comes down to good insulation. Your chicks are a bit young, is there any way you can keep them in a garage or spare room for longer? I'd worry about lack of feathers. Most chickens seem to do alright in the cold in my experience if their coops are cared for properly. Lastly, I'd really be careful with your heating devices, because there is always the chance of coop fires. Good luck!

Right, which is why I didn't want to put the light back in even though it it reallt secure. It is screwed into the ceiling but I really didnt want to keep it on all night and only want to use it when it is really cold. But I don't know what is "really cold" is for 4/5 weeks. They will be 5 weeks by the time the coldest weather gets here. They cannot know the lamp down if we hang it.

 

[3KillerBs]

As long as the coop is draft-free and well-ventilated (plenty of fresh air at the top but winds blocked at the birds' level), and the chicks are well-feathered then they should be fine.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

If they have all their feathers and have been acclimating to the temperatures as they fall they ought to be fine. If you've kept them on heat so far they need to acclimate.

At that age, with night lows down around 40, my most recent chicks refused to sleep in the sheltered corner, preferring to lay next to the mesh. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/setting-up-an-integration-facility.1496470/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/25-from-welp.1494343/page-8#post-25026644

They have been in the colder weather during the day when its been in the 60s and i was using the lamp when it was in the 40s but since I took it out, I really did not want to hang it back up but will I that is what is best. The coop is definitely good quality and well built and warmer than the outside.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

As long as the coop is draft-free and well-ventilated (plenty of fresh air at the top but winds blocked at the birds' level), and the chicks are well-feathered then they should be fine.

Thank you. They have ventilation at the top of the coop. There is no drafts at all.

 

[3KillerBs]

The coop is definitely good quality and well built and warmer than the outside.

Ideally, the coop and the outdoors should be the same temperature and humidity. If the coop is noticeably warmer you might need more ventilation because warm air is moist air and humidity rather than temperature is the problem in the winter.

Where, in general, are you located (you can put it into your profile for easy reference)? Climate matters a lot.