Moving outdoors temp minimum?

[Redbirdacres]

Good morning!

We have 29 BJGs (for m that are running out of room. Hubby will hopefully build their tractor tomorrow so we can get them outside. The temps are increasing today and tomorrow however our forecast for next week has some overnight temps in the 20s. Will they be OK?

 

[azygous]

Your location would help us research your climate and weather expectations.

The age of your chicks would help us know how ready they are.

It would help to know if you have a secure place outdoors where the chicks might spend day time until your coop is ready for them to move in.

 

[SilverBirds]

20 degrees F or C? How old are the chicks?

 

[NhRN]

They would have to be fully feathered...even with 29 of them, that's cold!!

 

[Redbirdacres]

Mid-Wisconsin so frost date isn't till mid May generally speaking. BJGs will be butchered in fall so they're not getting a full coop but a movable tractor. They're *roughly* 6.5 weeks. They are pretty crowded right now and desperately need the room of going outside.

 

[NatJ]

They're *roughly* 6.5 weeks. They are pretty crowded right now and desperately need the room of going outside.

So they are in the house right now?

Do they still have a heat source? If yes, take it away from them, so they spend the next few days at house temperature instead of even warmer.

You can help them adjust to outdoor temperatures by taking them outside during the day, and/or by keeping the house cooler than usual (maybe leave a window open.)

You may also be able to put a heat source outside with them. I would probably try for a "warm" corner at 40 or 50 degrees the first few days and nights (not really warm, just less cold than the rest of the oudoors). Of course you would need to be careful with extension cords and heat sources, to avoid fires.

 

[Redbirdacres]

So they are in the house right now?

Do they still have a heat source? If yes, take it away from them, so they spend the next few days at house temperature instead of even warmer.

You can help them adjust to outdoor temperatures by taking them outside during the day, and/or by keeping the house cooler than usual (maybe leave a window open.)

You may also be able to put a heat source outside with them. I would probably try for a "warm" corner at 40 or 50 degrees the first few days and nights (not really warm, just less cold than the rest of the oudoors). Of course you would need to be careful with extension cords and heat sources, to avoid fires.

They're in the garage. They have a heat plate but I have it on the highest height setting and have been turning it down. It honestly doesn't feel that warm and they sit on top of it and not under most of the time so wondering if they're hardening already???

 

[NatJ]

They're in the garage. They have a heat plate but I have it on the highest height setting and have been turning it down. It honestly doesn't feel that warm and they sit on top of it and not under most of the time so wondering if they're hardening already???

Yes, they are definitely adapting to the cooler temperatures.
How cold is the garage?

Chicks of that age can probably tolerate temperature drops of about 20 degrees per week until they reach whatever the outside temperature is (which will probably not take many weeks.)

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I am in southern WI and my chicks are 7 weeks old in the coop with the heat lamp on. Our heating plate doesnt keep them warm enough. The heater will be coming out next week. It is suppose to be in the 70s this weekend though. So lets hope it stays that way. I also turn the light off when it is above 50 degrees.

 

[Redbirdacres]

I am in southern WI and my chicks are 7 weeks old in the coop with the heat lamp on. Our heating plate doesnt keep them warm enough. The heater will be coming out next week. It is suppose to be in the 70s this weekend though. So lets hope it stays that way. I also turn the light off when it is above 50 degrees.

Forecast says back to 40s and nights in the upper 20s and lower 30s again next week. I won't use a heat lamp so if they need heat, the heat plate is what I have.