Temperatures for moving six week old chicks to coop?

[mountainhen88]

Hi, we have six six-week old chicks (Welsummer, Barred rock, Rhode Island Red, Americauna, & Gold sex-linked) that have been living under a heat lamp in the unheated garage. We have been moving the chicks to their outdoor run for several hours at a time during sunny days that are in the 60s-70s. We would like to move them out to their coop permanently this weekend when they are officially six weeks old. The weather forecast is saying temperatures will dip into the low 40s (and one night the high 30s) at night and get up into the 60s during the day. Do you think the chicks will be okay at night in the coop (sheltered from the wind) with no heat lamp? The main reason for this is they are getting too big for the container we have them in, but I would hate to lose them due to cold temperatures after getting them this far! What do you think?

 

[Lisa3315]

Mine just spent their first night in the coop at about 7 weeks old (they are 8 weeks now), but they could have spent the night a little earlier. Our temps are just a little warmer than where you are. I followed a suggestion on here to put a cardboard box on its side with some shavings in the coop with them so they can sleep in the box, I think it was called a huddle box? They love it and have been sleeping in it the last few days.

 

[Lisa3315]

Oh, I should have mentioned that I had them sleep in the brooder in the garage without any light or heat for a few nights before putting them in the coop overnight.

 

[mountainhen88]

Thank you so much! We will definitely make a huddle box, and start pulling the heat lamp today to give them four days in the garage without heat before moving them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can you expose them to some of those colder temperatures at night? That's as much for your benefit as theirs. It might help your confidence if you see for yourself. I think they will be fine.

 

[mountainhen88]

Can you expose them to some of those colder temperatures at night? That's as much for your benefit as theirs. It might help your confidence if you see for yourself. I think they will be fine.

 

[mountainhen88]

I think we will start leaving the heat lamp off overnight in the garage for the next few nights to start getting them exposed to colder temperatures. Thanks!