Too cold for 6 week old chicks?

[LindaMarieLaur]

One of my coops and yards is reserved for a family of originally 2 hens and a rooster. One broody hatched two sets of two chicks which also live in this area. The birds do not sleep in the coop; they reserve it for laying and hatching eggs. They roost in the yard and the youngest chicks roost there as well. I noticed that as it gets colder (50s at night), the 6 week old chicks roost close to the tarped roof with older chickens on the roost on the rafter immediately under them. So far it seems fine and during the day they hang out more underneath the coop. I think they should be ok as it gets colder here, but just checking to see if anyone else has had experience with chicks that remain with their family

 

[Birdsong 82]

50s should be perfectly fine for six week old chicks. At night they huddled together to keep warm. But I always like to lower the temperature gradually but in the 50s they will be perfectly fine

 

[Shadrach]

One of my coops and yards is reserved for a family of originally 2 hens and a rooster. One broody hatched two sets of two chicks which also live in this area. The birds do not sleep in the coop; they reserve it for laying and hatching eggs. They roost in the yard and the youngest chicks roost there as well. I noticed that as it gets colder (50s at night), the 6 week old chicks roost close to the tarped roof with older chickens on the roost on the rafter immediately under them. So far it seems fine and during the day they hang out more underneath the coop. I think they should be ok as it gets colder here, but just checking to see if anyone else has had experience with chicks that remain with their family
View attachment 1553049

All the chicks here roost with their families.
As long as they don’t get wet while they roost they’ll be fine. Here as it gets colder the whole family, there are four families here now, huddle together. They do have coops.
A rough guide from my observations here.

Above freezing they’ll happily roost in the trees if I let them.

Minus 2 degrees and they’ll tend to huddle but still roost in the trees if I let them.

Below minus 2 they’ll go in their coops and crowd on one perch.

Snow, they go in the coops

Rain at just above freezing, they go in the coops.

Hail, they won’t even come out of the coops.

Looking at your pictures I assume the chicks are in their normal roosting spot? If so that should be fine even if they stay there on their own.
At a few degrees below freezing things get a bit more complicated. Much like us their extremities get cold and in extreme cases frostbitten feet. Often this is down to poor ventilation arrangements, wind chill and dampness.

The secret is to make sure they can stay dry and wedged in the apex of that roof should be an ideal spot.

 

[aart]

Chicken like to get as high as possible.
The bigger birds probably can't get up there or they would.

Why do they not roost in coop....is coop big enough with lots of ventilation?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[SueT]

I agree that they'll be fine with the temps.
But is it safe from predators in the yard?

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

I agree that they'll be fine with the temps.
But is it safe from predators in the yard?

Yes. There used to be a gap between the roof and the sides which an opossum got in twice and kicked out and hasn't returned. There is no longer a gap. The top portion a mink got in once. The chickens made a racket and I ran out in pjs, grabbed a board because the mink ran back up to where it came in with a chicken and tried to pull the chicken out behind it; it an off and never returned. The top portion now has hardware cloth added. The front and sides are cattle fence with chicken wire on the inside. I haven't had a problem with that area yet so from my experience thus far it is preditor proof. There is also wire underneath the yard. In the winter I add tarps to the sides and front and back leaving the area where they roost open. I keep a tarped roof on year round.

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

Chicken like to get as high as possible.
The bigger birds probably can't get up there or they would.

Why do they not roost in coop....is coop big enough with lots of ventilation?

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!
View attachment 1553839

Thanks. I will try to add the info. New York. Fall here now. I was worried about the young ones and won't be letting my broody sit on any eggs now until spring.

 

[aart]

I keep a tarped roof on year round.

Surprised that baby holds up to snow load.....ever had it sag?

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

Surprised that baby holds up to snow load.....ever had it sag?

No. My son built it for me and was worried it might because he didn't design it for a tarped top, but it holds up very well. I didn't even have to clean it off. I only began with the tarp last winter. Before that I used to shovel it out but with the water heater I had to change my thoughts on the roof.

 

[LindaMarieLaur]

No. My son built it for me and was worried it might, but it holds up very well. I didn't even have to clean it off. I only began with the tarp last winter. Before that I used to shovel it out but with the water heater I had to change my thoughts on the roof.