meat birds and temps

[blkdogchick]

How low of temps can 3.5 week old meaties handle at night. it still getting in the mid to upper 40's at night here in michigan. should I leave a heat lamp on outside at night, I kind of want them to get used to day/night.
Thank you
Ron @ black dog farms

 

[Maniac Dad]

My 50 Cornish X's woke up to 6 inches of snow outside of their coop this morning. It was 75 degrees last week!

I've kept two heat lamps in the 12x16 coop availabe for them as needed. When I opened the door I expected to see all 50 piled up under the lamps. They were all dispersed through out the coop floor. The thermometer showed 54 degrees 6 inches off the floor. I think these guys enjoy the cooler temps! I'm guessing that it may cost me a week of lower growth cause their probably using some of the growing calories to keep their furnace stoked but you can't fight mother nature.

Idaho; Snow in July ........ You can smile or you can cry.

 

[Dogfish]

Mine went outside at that age, and their health improved. We are using Rubbermaid containers turned upside down with a hole cut in one end.

 

[blueskylen]

my cornish x at 6 weeks are really showing some strain on the hot days over 75 degrees. i use the deep litter method and it generates heat even tho i sprinkle de on it before adding another layer of straw. in the mornings when it is cool - they jump around and spar with each other, but if the temps get up to 75 - 80 they just lay and pant and i run a fan on them. definitely like the cooler weather,and next year i am going to get them earlier so that their 8 weeks are up before the 1st of may.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
whats the Rubbermaid for? can't wait to put mine out

 

[Dogfish]

Little mini coops. They cost about $5. They all pile in and keep warm.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
oh ok, and you just use that to help the transition with no heat lamp

 

[TimG]

My Rangers have been in the barn with no heat lamp since they were 2 1/2 weeks old. We've had a few nights that dipped into the low 30s since they've been out. I'm still leaving a light on 24 hours (because I'm happy to have them eating round the clock).

 

[Dogfish]

I moved them in the big coop/run as a transition, but after a few days of lifting them up into the coop at night, and out again in the evening, I gave up on that. I figured if they want in the coop, they could get up there themselves, and they don't.

38 degrees last night. I have come to find that these chickens are tougher than we give them credit for.

One of those rubbermaid containers for every 5 chickens.

 

[jaku]

Technically, they can handle freezing temps at that age, but my birds still get heat lamps at night in their tractor.