What temperatures can chicks stand?

[PioneerChicks]

I typically just follow what the chicks' body language is telling me, but I would like to know in advance for next spring.

What is the coldest temperature a 6 week old chick can stand? They will have all their feathers, so can they survive weather just above freezing without a heat lamp? Night spring temps here can range from around 33 degrees F to 42. It is okay if they will need a heat lamp, I would just prefer that they not.

 

[mcdze]

i think they would be alright .. i would maybe try to make it so they can get out of any draft, tack a tarp up around a corner of the coop or whatever ...

 

[PioneerChicks]

i think they would be alright .. i would maybe try to make it so they can get out of any draft, tack a tarp up around a corner of the coop or whatever ...

Okay, thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

it also depends on how many you have... 6 or more 6 week olds can huddle if it dips lower than you think it will. So for temperatures around freezing they would be fine.

But 4 or fewer chicks at 6 weeks old, I would have a warning station set up for them until about 2 months of age, or temperatures clearly and definitely above freezing. (45F and higher)

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had 5-1/2 week old chicks go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit with no supplemental heat. They were raised in my 6' x 3' brooder in the coop where one end was kept warm but the other cooled off to below freezing at times so they were acclimated. The grow-out coop they were in had great breeze protection down low where they were and great ventilation up high. I did have around 20 chicks both years those freezing temperatures happened.

As long as you can do it safely there is nothing wrong with providing a warm spot for them to go to. That will not hut them at all. It might help you keep your water thawed too. How well yours can handle that will depend on what the coop looks like and some other things, but I'd probably be comfortable at 6 weeks.

 

[PioneerChicks]

it also depends on how many you have... 6 or more 6 week olds can huddle if it dips lower than you think it will. So for temperatures around freezing they would be fine.

But 4 or fewer chicks at 6 weeks old, I would have a warning station set up for them until about 2 months of age, or temperatures clearly and definitely above freezing. (45F and higher)

I've had 5-1/2 week old chicks go through nights in the mid 20's Fahrenheit with no supplemental heat. They were raised in my 6' x 3' brooder in the coop where one end was kept warm but the other cooled off to below freezing at times so they were acclimated. The grow-out coop they were in had great breeze protection down low where they were and great ventilation up high. I did have around 20 chicks both years those freezing temperatures happened.

As long as you can do it safely there is nothing wrong with providing a warm spot for them to go to. That will not hut them at all. It might help you keep your water thawed too. How well yours can handle that will depend on what the coop looks like and some other things, but I'd probably be comfortable at 6 weeks.

Thank you both! Great advice!