Pray for my chick chick birdies...First night in the coop!

[newchik715]

Just so you know my daughter calls the chickens chick chick birdies

So we finished the coop for now and moved the girls outside. I have checked several times and while they are fine I am worried it is too cold for them! The guy at the feed store said they are hardier then people think and they will be fine but I feel like a bad mommy. I put the brooder box in there with the light over it and one side of the box cut down so they can easily go in and out of the light as they please. The food and water is in the brooder box as well bc I want them to remember to stay warm! I know they have to move out eventually but......anyway, they are almost fully feathered and are 5 weeks old. We live in northwest Washington and while the days have been like spring it is still frosting in the morning. Am I an overly worried mama hen or will they be fine do you think?

Also I put clear plastic over the open windows and then chicken wire over that. We put on a plywood door and like I said they have their lamp. I wonder if it is enough?

 

[SunshineSilkies]

As long as you keep some heat available for them, they should be fine..The nights are still cool here in Florida and I keep a light or 2 in the pen in case they get cold...

Good luck with your babies!!!

 

[Gonzo]

I think so! I think you're a good chicken Mommie!

 

[rainierlass]

I felt the same way when I put my 4 week olds out in the coop a week ago -
I have the heat lamp out there on them and yes our nites have been chilly - some down to 30F here near Mt Rainier and
the temps got as low as 58F inside the coop and they were absolutely fine -
~~~ was such a nice warm day yesterday they spent the day out in the run and loved it!
They even got the hang of the ramp - - I covered it in hardware cloth and it works great!!!

When I put them back in the coop last nite ( they haven't quite figured out yet how to UP the ramp!) they were bedding down away from the light so I raised it a bit and put it over to the side - they were not laying under it this morning - temp outside was a mild 48F tho - - - - as many of the posters have said here - they will tell you what they need we just need to watch and listen

I found myself peeking in on them on those cold nites and they are all bedded down under the light
looking at me like "WHAT??? We are fine momma!Just let us sleep would ya??!!"

Being new to chicks I have felt the same way - - sounds like all is well tho and you are a great momma hen!!

 

[newchik715]

Well I have six birds and when I went in this morning I only had four....no signs of a predator so I start to look around. The others were just hiding! Talk about giving mama a heart attack! So, they survived their first night! Hope it all continues to go well for these girls! I am so attached.

 

[Southernbelle]

I used to worry about the cold a lot, but a few years ago I had one of my hens go broody for the first time and gave her eggs in late fall. The babies hatched a little before Christmas and I kept Mama and babies outside in a wood box in my un-heated coop. I was shocked to see those brand new babies run around in the freezing cold temperatures and didn't seem bothered at all. If they got chilled they'd tuck under their mama, but they didn't seem to spend a lot of time under her. It got down to 6* overnight that winter and I didn't lose any of the babies. After seeing that, I stopped worrying overmuch about young chickens getting too cold.

That being said, if they were used to the warmer temps of an indoor brooder, then it was smart of you to put the heat lamp in there for them so the difference in temp doesn't shock them. They need to get used to it gradually. I think you're doing a great job!