temps tonight

[shellybean40]

My chicks are 5 weeks old and in our henhouse. A cold front moved in and it will get down to 52 tonight. Should I turn their heat lamp on tonight? This weather is unheard of for south central Texas, usually by now we are very warm.
Opinions?

 

[donnavee]

I'm not that experienced but last year I put my 4wk olds out in early May and we had a freak storm come through with lows in the 40's. I was worried to death about it, but they had lots of feathers and the next morning all 8 were fine. If yours have been without heat for a while and have lots of feathers, I would think they would be OK. I didn't have a heat lamp in my coop at the time, so I had not option. If you are really worried though, go for the lamp and peace of mind.

 

[felidaet]

I would turn on a heat lamp near one corner of the coop. They can use it if they need it.

 

[shellybean40]

Thanks everyone, I did go out and string my extension cord out there and turn on the heat lamp. We are still working on the playhouse/henhouse conversion and electricity is not yet done. I am really glad I did, because it was 50 degrees this morning and kind of chilly. Better safe than sorry-you know?

 

[QuackerOats]

I've taken my 3 week old chicks outside to roam around in 55 F weather during the day. They always seem happy! They have a lot of feathers already. I just remind myself that these could be wild animals outside at the time of hatching!