Texas Heat !

[Terry Scott]

Hi folks,
I had an earlier post under health and emergencies and have an update: the chick has fully recovered and again thank eggcessive and sourland for their advice.
So now the chicks are 7 - 8 weeks old, (bielefelders), and growing fast. They currently reside in a standard tub in an unfinished air conditioned bathroom. I have been taking them (5) out to their pen area daily for acclimation. It is shady in areas with usually a small breeze for at least 1/2 of the day but has been running into 100 degrees by noon, (N Texas). I usually sit in the shade watching them and bring them in when they appear hot or panting. They don’t seem to be in distress and have water but I don’t know chicken behavior well enough to know what heat degree is too much, especially at 8 weeks. They are big enough to not be able to escape their pen, their coop has ventilation and I had planned to put them out permanently at 8-10 weeks. How hot is too hot for young chicks?

Terry

 

[Kiki]

Hi Terry!
I'm Down in the Houston area.

There is absolutely no way in the world I would have one week old chicks inside my house at this time of year.
They would be in the coop permanently.

 

[Kiki]

Also... I think you might be making it harder for them to get used to the heat by taking them in and out.
If your Coop is secure then I highly recommend you put them out and leave them so they can get used to the heat.


Is it an open air style coop?
Do you have pictures of it?

 

[Terry Scott]

The pen is open air, the coop is an overez model. It has windows but is closed. I’ll post a picture.

 

[Terry Scott]

Here’s the pic.

 

[Kiki]

Here’s the pic.

The coop might be a problem for our weather.

Is there any more ventilation besides those two windows and do those two windows actually open?

 

[Kiki]

Here’s the pic.

I would completely cover that entire area with 1/2-in hardware cloth and put a roof on it and completely get rid of the little coop inside of it.
.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You're going to need a lot more ventilation on that coop. Even in moderate or colder climates, that particular design is under ventilated, if you haven't made modifications.

 

[Terry Scott]

The coop might be a problem for our weather.

Is there any more ventilation besides those two windows and do those two windows actually open?

Yes the windows open and I have electricity inside for fans or heat lamp in winter. There is the chicken entry door on the right and the large entry door on the left that could be left open during the hot days. Don’t forget, it gets very cold up here in the panhandle with strong winds.

 

[Terry Scott]

You're going to need a lot more ventilation on that coop. Even in moderate or colder climates, that particular design is under ventilated, if you haven't made modifications.

I can easily make modifications for additional ventilation as needed. Have the coop primarily for laying eggs and protection against predators.