Temps for 4 week old chicks? I need tips for keeping them outside.

[Andora]

I got a second heat lamp, so there are now two 250 watt lamps going. It's 5 degrees outside right now (they are in the unheated garage) and the temp probe under the lamp is registering 51 degrees in there. Yesterday when it was 20 degrees out the chicks were between 75 and 80 under the lamps. They are perfectly fine! All are running around happily, looking no different than when they were in the house. They aren't even huddled under their lamps, they're all spread out pecking in their giant box.

 

[laizer]

In my experience the quicker I get the birds outside the healthier they are. I got chicks from a man who ordered from Mcmurray and he used a heat lamp and majority of the chicks were weak. We have chicks from our flock and are half the age and just as big. They are quicker and healthier. We take a very natural approach if the chicks are weak then most likely the are eaten by prey or die. Seems harsh. I am not saying that we just let them die, if we can help them we do. But for the sake of the flock we want the ones who are the strongest to survive. With that said I have birds that hatch in october who have never seen a lamp. But keep in mind that these where raised by a wonderful mother. I have read many articles that say winter isn't a time for chicks but the cold in my opinion isn't as dangerous as the humidity. I live in Western Massachussetts and it is cold here. In conclusion, we dont use electricty to heat our coops and the birds are doing fine. But only the birds which have had time to adjust. Like plants quick change is deadly.

Nicholas