To heat or not to heat...

[tbitler]

Hello Again, BYC Friends!

A quick question about heating the coop...

My little chickies have been outside in their coop for over a week now - We purchased them about three weeks ago, so guessing that they are between 3-4 weeks old.

It has been unseasonably warm here for May, so far - but temps are dropping into the 40's at night and we are concerned about them getting cold over the next couple of nights. Should we purchase a heater or heat lamp? Or should they be able to weather the temps okay?

Here is a pic I took this weekend - Unfortunately, I can not get the picture to rotate....sorry!



Here is the picture of the coop - they all seem to snuggle together at night in the same nesting box.



As always, thank you so very much for the help and insight.

Respectfully,

Traci & Dave Bitler

PS: Also still wondering on breed...any guesses?

Thx!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'd probably give them a heat source at night in those temps for a couple more weeks.

I like a ceramic heat emitter in a lamp holder.
https://www.farmtek.com/farm/suppli...ent-ft_poultry_brooders_heaters;pglk1011.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/360797200760?lpid=82&chn=ps

150 watt is probably sufficient.

 

[curious chickee]

I wouldn't bother heating, let them snuggle, I stop heating around 3-4 weeks. But I would block the nesting boxes so they learn to roost and not sleep/poop in their nesting boxes.