What temp is okay outside at night for 6 week olds.

[bendystar]

Hi, My chicks are getting big! Their coop is just about finished and I'm ready to get them out of the house at night. They have been spending the days outside in a run for about a week. We're in San Diego and it's about 58-60 degrees at night here. Would they be alright to sleep in the "cold" like that or should I have a heat lamp out there with them. They have a lot of feathers and are looking like little chickens. They would be in an enclosed coop. Thanks for your help!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

At six weeks they should be fully feathered by now. So long as they are dry and not directly in the wind they ought to be fine without any additional heat.

 

[Morgan7782]

I think they would do fine with temps like that PROVIDED you wean from the heat light. As long as they are inside for a bit without a light (few days and nights) they should be good with the transition. The biggest issue I see is when people take chicks from the warmth of heat light and put them outside without heat light.

 

[NewHen]

I'm in Los Angeles & I just put out my 2.5 week olds with my 3 month olds, but I turn on the heat lamp for them at night. I put the older chicks out here around 2.5 months without the heat lamp when they were feathered out. I transitioned them from my living room to the garage (with heat lamp), then in the garage without a heat lamp, than only outside in the day, and then outside all the time.