What age are chick safe outside in 20-degree weather?

[Kgoehner]

We have 6 chicks ranging in age from 6-8 weeks old. We would like to move them outside to their new coop, but the temperatures have been in the 20s at night and only in the 40s during the day. The coop is draft free and has straw they can nest in if so desired. The two older chicks have spent the past two days outside during the day, but the other 4 have not yet been outside. A few questions:

1) Can we move all the chicks outside now (permanently - day and night), or do we need to work on acclimating the other 4?
2) Are all 6 chicks old enough to be outside all night (without a heat lamp) with the temperatures this cold?
3) If no to the above, can they all be outside at night if they have a heat lamp?
4) The heat lamp we currently have is only 60 watts - is that enough or do we need something stronger?

Thank you!

 

[wyoDreamer]

Do you have heat on them now, in the house?

if not, then if they are fully feathered, they can go outside. Check them the first night to see if they are distressed, ie. peeping loudly, piled up in corner (which can smother the ones on the bottom) or other signs of being cold. They may need a wool hen to acclimate to such cold temps, but the sooner you get them outside, the sooner they will grow the feathers they need to stay warm all winter.

 

[Acre4Me]

Try to acclimate them to the outside temps. Since they haven’t been outside, you could use the heat lamp, even with 60 watt bulb. However, double secure it so it can’t be knocked off/fall off and hit the shavings, which might ignite. They are old enough to be outside, but since they haven’t acclimated I’d be more conscious of how they are acting/behaving. If you add the heat lamp, my guess is they will only use it for a couple of days.

 

[Kgoehner]

Do you have heat on them now, in the house?

if not, then if they are fully feathered, they can go outside. Check them the first night to see if they are distressed, ie. peeping loudly, piled up in corner (which can smother the ones on the bottom) or other signs of being cold. They may need a wool hen to acclimate to such cold temps, but the sooner you get them outside, the sooner they will grow the feathers they need to stay warm all winter.

They aren't under a heat lamp, just the general temp of our home. Most are fully feathered, except our salmon faverolle, who is 7 weeks, but still appears to have some down on her belly.

 

[Kgoehner]

Try to acclimate them to the outside temps. Since they haven’t been outside, you could use the heat lamp, even with 60 watt bulb. However, double secure it so it can’t be knocked off/fall off and hit the shavings, which might ignite. They are old enough to be outside, but since they haven’t acclimated I’d be more conscious of how they are acting/behaving. If you add the heat lamp, my guess is they will only use it for a couple of days.

Thank you! Do you think 60 watts is warm enough or should we get a warmer bulb?

 

[Acre4Me]

Thank you! Do you think 60 watts is warm enough or should we get a warmer bulb?

for their age, I’d just use the 60watt.

 

[sarahbde1]

We have 6 chicks ranging in age from 6-8 weeks old. We would like to move them outside to their new coop, but the temperatures have been in the 20s at night and only in the 40s during the day. The coop is draft free and has straw they can nest in if so desired. The two older chicks have spent the past two days outside during the day, but the other 4 have not yet been outside. A few questions:

1) Can we move all the chicks outside now (permanently - day and night), or do we need to work on acclimating the other 4?
2) Are all 6 chicks old enough to be outside all night (without a heat lamp) with the temperatures this cold?
3) If no to the above, can they all be outside at night if they have a heat lamp?
4) The heat lamp we currently have is only 60 watts - is that enough or do we need something stronger?

Thank you!

For every week over ,8 weeks old they can go down another 10 degrees, 9 weeks 40 degrees, 10 weeks 30 and 11 weeks 20, and you have to acclimate them to the cold.

 

[sarahbde1]

We have 6 chicks ranging in age from 6-8 weeks old. We would like to move them outside to their new coop, but the temperatures have been in the 20s at night and only in the 40s during the day. The coop is draft free and has straw they can nest in if so desired. The two older chicks have spent the past two days outside during the day, but the other 4 have not yet been outside. A few questions:

1) Can we move all the chicks outside now (permanently - day and night), or do we need to work on acclimating the other 4?
2) Are all 6 chicks old enough to be outside all night (without a heat lamp) with the temperatures this cold?
3) If no to the above, can they all be outside at night if they have a heat lamp?
4) The heat lamp we currently have is only 60 watts - is that enough or do we need something stronger?

Thank you!

You have to acclimate them to the cold. It's 8 weeks fully feathered if it's 50 degrees. For every week after that they can go down another 10 degrees. 9 weeks 40 degrees 10 weeks 30. It's not simply being fully feathered it's having enough weight on them to withstand the cold. A heat source can catch fire. I'd let them out during the day at 9 weeks and watch them and try to keep them in like a warmer than outside unheated space. Then acclimate them a few extra hours till overnight

 

[debid]

For every week over ,8 weeks old they can go down another 10 degrees, 9 weeks 40 degrees, 10 weeks 30 and 11 weeks 20, and you have to acclimate them to the cold.

Where did you get that information?

Mine are outside from the beginning. With their electric hen but out in the coop. Temperature doesn't matter, they choose how much they need to use their heat source.

What's really helpful about doing it this way is NO GUESSING. They tell me when they are ready to go off heat entirely by moving to the roost and staying there overnight. That happens around 5 weeks. I usually see the faster feathering ones go to the roost as the sun is going down but then come back down and sleep on the floor out from under the heat but close to the ones that need a little more time. Eventually, they all go up together and that's the end of the transition. Same thing every time.

They aren't choosing to be uncomfortable, they are feathered enough and ready.

 

[Anon112]

Instead of a heat lamp, I'd strongly suggest a brooding plate, set high enough for them to stand under. I put mine out and had the brooding plate available to them pretty young (about 2 weeks, with temps down into the 40s). If they have a heat source and are safe from drafts, I'd think they'd be just fine.

I was honestly shocked at how quickly my chicks were fine without the heat.