week 2 in larger brooder box

[ashtonbritney]

hi all! We live in NC where the temps range from 32 overnight to 50s and 60s during the daytime. The 'day old' chicks came 2/25, so are about 2 full weeks now. They've been in a sterilite/rubbermaid (50 gallon) with a heater plate. They've been waking with the sun and sleeping when it goes down. Today we moved them to the larger brooder with the intention of keeping it in the garage. They love it so far. Right now it's outside of our garage, but will have to be moved in our garage (has wheels) during rainy times. So, our garage has NO windows, and covered with tree canopy so it gets cold, likely in the low 40s overnight. Should we bring them indoors to their rubbermaid brooder during nights until they get used to the outdoors? I can open the garage am/pm with the light. Just a little unsure what to do with getting them acclimated to outdoor living and the best time to do so.

The top is hardware cloth (opens) and we can put plywood as well when drafty and to shade when needed. There is hardware cloth on one side and plexiglass on the other. The size is 4 x 5 (or 4 x 6 per my husband who can't remember).

 

[aart]

likely in the low 40s overnight.

They should be fine as long as they all fit under the plate.
Check on them after dark and see how they are doing.

 

[ashtonbritney]

Thank you! Right now they all fit under the plate, so we should be ok. It's so nerve wracking having them outside - even if it's in my cold garage!

 

[rosemarythyme]

40s overnight is fine with the heat plate. Since they're inside the garage drafts aren't an issue unless you're opening and closing the doors. If you're planning to leave the garage door open for light during the day, I'd just check that there's no drafts going through the area the brooder is in, and they should be fine like that.

 

[ashtonbritney]

40s overnight is fine with the heat plate. Since they're inside the garage drafts aren't an issue unless you're opening and closing the doors. If you're planning to leave the garage door open for light during the day, I'd just check that there's no drafts going through the area the brooder is in, and they should be fine like that.

Thank you! That is a good suggestion. I'm going to check, especially when it gets windier.