Outside too early?

[ntankovich]

Hello chicken experts! Another question for all of you wonderful people! My five chicks are 6 weeks old now. Mostly feathered and very happy Today I took them outside to the run that they will share with my two full grown hens. I have them in a large dog crate in the run. Today it was 70 and nice out so I wasnt worried. However it's getting into the 40's this evening. Do I need to take them back in? They're getting so big I didn't really want to but I don't want them to freeze to death.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Did you transition them? Did they spend a night or two at 60 or 50 degrees to prepare them?

 

[ntankovich]

No I haven't. They've been outside a couple times during the day which was in the 50's and 60's but not overnight.

 

[ntankovich]

I should also mention this dog crate is a very kennel so it's closed on all sides and the top. I have hay in there with them.