Moving chicks outside (low temp)

[Saraschickens]

Hi, so I have 26 chicks. They range from 4 weeks to 5 and a half weeks old now. They are too big for their brooder. I've been taking them outside into a Tractor Supply cage (3'x5') every day for 2 weeks as of today. They have a brooder plate and a 100 watt heat lamp side by side in there. I take them out as the sun rises, and bring them in at night (starting at 7pm and have been lengthening it out to as late as 10:30pm now). Trying to get them used to the nights. I cover the coop/cage with boards and a shade cloth when/if the wind picks up, and always as night comes (as it get cooler, to keep the warm in and the chill out). At night inside their inside brooder, I have a brooder plate set upright against the wall. I turn it on to 75-80° depending on the temp of the house and watching to see if they move away from it or close to it, adjusting as needed. There is a 25 watt light over the top that's on a timer so they go to bed at night. We've set up another cage/coop area for them that is a 5'x10' area, and want to move them into that for more space soon. That will be their first introduction to the big girls since the hens free roam around that area and it's right next to the other coops & runs.
My real question is, the temperatures are still falling to around 55° at night (but quickly getting warmer), and they'd still have the brooder plate and heat lamp. Unless the heat lamp is too dangerous, then 2 brooder plates? Can chicks this age (and that many chicks) handle that temperature (with the heat sources available), and no wind?
Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can chicks this age (and that many chicks) handle that temperature (with the heat sources available), and no wind?

Yes, probably without the heat sources.

 

[RoyalChick]

I think they will be fine. As @Ridgerunner says, maybe even without heat.
A couple of years ago I had a group of 5 that I moved out at ten days old and it promptly dropped to below freezing at night.
I won’t say I wasn’t anxious, but when I came in to the coop at the crack of dawn they weren’t even under the heat plate but seemed to be having a game of tag racing each other around the brooder cage in the semi-dark.

 

[Saraschickens]

Yes, probably without the heat sources.

Really? Without a heat source? Anything I should know about doing this?

 

[Saraschickens]

I think they will be fine. As @Ridgerunner says, maybe even without heat.
A couple of years ago I had a group of 5 that I moved out at ten days old and it promptly dropped to below freezing at night.
I won’t say I wasn’t anxious, but when I came in to the coop at the crack of dawn they weren’t even under the heat plate but seemed to be having a game of tag racing each other around the brooder cage in the semi-dark.

Wow! That's amazing! That's with or without a heat source? And no mama hen I'm assuming?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Really? Without a heat source? Anything I should know about doing this?

Most chicks have feathered out pretty well by 4 weeks of age. Practically all have by 5 weeks. Your low is projected to be 55 F. You have 26 chicks, they will generate a lot of body heat. You have been acclimating them to cooler temperatures but probably not that cool.

In my opinion, they would be OK if you keep the wind off of them. It will not hurt to provide heat if you want to and can do it safely but do not be surprised if they ignore it.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wow! That's amazing! That's with or without a heat source? And no mama hen I'm assuming?

No mama hen but I did have a heat plate for them. They didn’t seem to have the patience to huddle under it even though it was below freezing. But I am glad it was there for them.

 

[Saraschickens]

Most chicks have feathered out pretty well by 4 weeks of age. Practically all have by 5 weeks. Your low is projected to be 55 F. You have 26 chicks, they will generate a lot of body heat. You have been acclimating them to cooler temperatures but probably not that cool.

In my opinion, they would be OK if you keep the wind off of them. It will not hurt to provide heat if you want to and can do it safely but do not be surprised if they ignore it.

Wow ok, great! Thank you!

 

[Saraschickens]

No mama hen but I did have a heat plate for them. They didn’t seem to have the patience to huddle under it even though it was below freezing. But I am glad it was there for them.

Wow! I keep reading stories like this, but am amazed every time I hear them! Ok, I feel pretty good about it! Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

At 55 these chicks could've been off heat last week and still done fine at night - for point of reference last time I cut chicks off heat the youngest were 34 days old, temps 40F and rainy.

Since you've had them on heat still, it's best to wean them off heat (i.e. taking away the lamp entirely) for a few days first before cutting off the option.