What age are my chicks cold tolerant?

[Ambrosia17]

It can be 40 degrees here in Wisconsin at night. My 2 chicks are 4 and 8 weeks. How do I transition them to the cold? Thanks for your advice!

 

[KsKingBee]

You can provide them with a heat lamp and if they need it they will use it or they will become acclimated and not need it.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Another method is MHP (heating pad), there's a thread started by Blooie. Tired it once & converted from from the heat lamps.

 

[chickendreams24]

Hi Ambrosia17 what part of WI are you in? I'm south central.

What breeds of chicks? It sounds odd but some chicks do feather slower.

At 8 weeks they should be okay but bc of the extreme temp swing we've just had I would still suggest it.

We usually wean them off heat lamps slowly still providing them at night if it gets cool until maybe ten weeks if that makes you feel more comfortable. That being said we are switching to brooder plates as soon as our budget allows bc they are safer and more economical. If you can switch I would recommend it. Premier1 poultry supplies has brooder plates that I've heard good things about. Again we haven't yet tried these but have heard good things about them as well as about the momma heating pad method.

No one likes to think about it but every year a couple bycers seem to have coop fires from heat lamps. It's a terrible terrible thing to have happen and one of my greatest fears. When we use heat lamps(no matter the season) we triple secure them down usually to a non-flammable surface and try to only use them in metal stock tanks when possible. I drove my DH2B so crazy the first year we had chicks bc I couldn't sleep for all my worry. The wonderful man he is he not only screwed the lamp in place to a board via the attached clip but screwed the board into the wall and then zip tied the lamp to the board. We also try to place wire such as chicken wire over the half of the brooder that heat lamp hangs above(this way if the lamp or any part of it fell it would not fall on the chicks or into the brooder causing a fire.) Overkill perhaps but the lamp wasn't going anywhere. Also keep an eye on dust buildup bc that can also be dangerous. Last thing about heat lamps, in our experience the heat can melt the glue or whatever it is that holds the bulb to the socket making the bulbs not last long but also potentially be a fire hazard. This can also be a problem when you go to change the bulb bc the glass part will come out leaving the metal end in the fixture.

How many chicks do you have? Are the two age groups together?

Where are the chicks located?

We often if the size difference isn't too much will put similar ages together if there are even or almost even numbers(if for instance you only have one younger chick I would recommend it) they will cuddle and the older ones will help keep the littles warm.

 

[Pyxis]

Another method is MHP (heating pad), there's a thread started by Blooie. Tired it once & converted from from the heat lamps.

An eight week old peachick won't fit under a heating pad

What breeds of chicks? It sounds odd but some chicks do feather slower.

These are peachicks (at least I assume since this is in the peafowl section)

To the OP, I do what KsKingBee recommended. Mine have a heat lamp in the coop that they can use if they need to. The past couple days we were in a heat wave and they did not need it. However, starting today we are suddenly down into the 50's at night. They will probably be utilizing the heat lamp.

 

[Argus]

Are these peachicks or chicken chicks? What do you have for a pen?

 

[chickendreams24]

Whoops thanks missed that lol. I'm still not used to the new format (ick) and just clicked on it in the recent threads list. Lol

 

[Ambrosia17]

Hi Ambrosia17 what part of WI are you in? I'm south central.

What breeds of chicks? It sounds odd but some chicks do feather slower.

At 8 weeks they should be okay but bc of the extreme temp swing we've just had I would still suggest it.

We usually wean them off heat lamps slowly still providing them at night if it gets cool until maybe ten weeks if that makes you feel more comfortable. That being said we are switching to brooder plates as soon as our budget allows bc they are safer and more economical. If you can switch I would recommend it. Premier1 poultry supplies has brooder plates that I've heard good things about. Again we haven't yet tried these but have heard good things about them as well as about the momma heating pad method.

No one likes to think about it but every year a couple bycers seem to have coop fires from heat lamps. It's a terrible terrible thing to have happen and one of my greatest fears. When we use heat lamps(no matter the season) we triple secure them down usually to a non-flammable surface and try to only use them in metal stock tanks when possible. I drove my DH2B so crazy the first year we had chicks bc I couldn't sleep for all my worry. The wonderful man he is he not only screwed the lamp in place to a board via the attached clip but screwed the board into the wall and then zip tied the lamp to the board. We also try to place wire such as chicken wire over the half of the brooder that heat lamp hangs above(this way if the lamp or any part of it fell it would not fall on the chicks or into the brooder causing a fire.) Overkill perhaps but the lamp wasn't going anywhere. Also keep an eye on dust buildup bc that can also be dangerous. Last thing about heat lamps, in our experience the heat can melt the glue or whatever it is that holds the bulb to the socket making the bulbs not last long but also potentially be a fire hazard. This can also be a problem when you go to change the bulb bc the glass part will come out leaving the metal end in the fixture.

How many chicks do you have? Are the two age groups together?

Where are the chicks located?

We often if the size difference isn't too much will put similar ages together if there are even or almost even numbers(if for instance you only have one younger chick I would recommend it) they will cuddle and the older ones will help keep the littles warm.

 

[Ambrosia17]

We're north of Fremont in Manawa. I have peachicks (thought I was on the peafowl forum). Chickens are spring chickens... I think they're old enough for winter?