What The Lowest Temperature Day Old Baby Chicks Can Hadle?

[Nsampsel]

My chicks are thriving. I will put them out into the coop at 4 weeks. They are my first batch of Day olds-- I have some older ones I got at ages 1 and 3 weeks- that are already outside-- they are fine as well- my main concern now is mixing the 2 groups ( I want the chicks out of the house! But I only have one Coop...) I wanted a local Hatchery and I am in Northern CA so went with one not far from here called California Hatchery-- it was free shipping for 15 so I got 15...All 15 arrived well and remain well, they came 26 hours after hatch time so I do believe that was a factor....

I am constantly adding new chicks & adults to my coops. The key is to add them in groups of 5 or more so they can flock together for protection if they are younger. Adults are more of an issue than chicks, especially roos. If you get more than 1 adult roo in the coop, they will likely fight to establish dominance. If the roos have been raised together from chicks then it is much less of an issue. When chicks establish the pecking order the squabbles are short & non-violent. They do a bit of chest-bumping & pecking to show who is in charge & then all is settled again. Adults may actually injure each other if not separated when squabbles arise. Also, adding new birds to the coop at night helps. Chickens don't have great memories so when they wake up together they tend to think they have always been there. I try to check on new birds frequently the first few days so I can head off problems quickly if they do arise.

 

[ManuelsChickens]

My chicks are thriving. I will put them out into the coop at 4 weeks. They are my first batch of Day olds-- I have some older ones  I got at ages 1 and 3 weeks- that are already outside-- they are fine as well- my main concern now is mixing the 2 groups ( I want the chicks out of the house! But I only have one Coop...) I wanted a local Hatchery and I am in Northern CA so went with one not far from here called California Hatchery-- it was free shipping for 15 so I got 15...All 15 arrived well and remain well, they came 26 hours after hatch time so I do believe that was a factor....
PS I wouldnt use the air conditioner to regulate the chick temps-- 90's and even low 100's is fine for them. Even at 80 degrees I would have the heat lamp on them at night for the first few days (give them space to escape the lamp if it gets too hot for them) they are more fragile for the first week heatwise....

Oh Okay, So Should I Leave Them Outside? But Not At Night Cause It Goes Below 70 Degrees.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I am constantly adding new chicks & adults to my coops. The key is to add them in groups of 5 or more so they can flock together for protection if they are younger. Adults are more of an issue than chicks, especially roos. If you get more than 1 adult roo in the coop, they will likely fight to establish dominance. If the roos have been raised together from chicks then it is much less of an issue. When chicks establish the pecking order the squabbles are short & non-violent. They do a bit of chest-bumping & pecking to show who is in charge & then all is settled again. Adults may actually injure each other if not separated when squabbles arise. Also, adding new birds to the coop at night helps. Chickens don't have great memories so when they wake up together they tend to think they have always been there. I try to check on new birds frequently the first few days so I can head off problems quickly if they do arise.

Nsampsel,
i will be mixing 4 week olds with 8week olds-- is that young enough to avoid major bloodshed? There is def quite a size difference and one of the older pullets has been staring down the chicks and pecking at the barrier between the them in the run I have them in during the day...
MC-- if your outside run is shaded, well ventilated (ex my chick run is 4 window screens built onto an A frame of lumber with a window blind ontop that provides dappled sunlight) and the chicks arent laying around showing symptoms of heat stress- panting and dropping their little winglets, etc....
Also put a little cardboard Box upside down, with a hole cut inthe side and fill with straw for them to cuddle up in- they like to pile up in a little heap, also maybe keep them inside for the first couple of days so you can make sure they are healthy etc... They are so fragile at first...
Yes I would put them out during the day and in at night-- 70 degrees is too cold for newborns you still need heat lamp for a couple weeks at least ...

 

[Nsampsel]

Nsampsel,
i will be mixing 4 week olds with 8week olds-- is that young enough to avoid major bloodshed? There is def quite a size difference and one of the older pullets has been staring down the chicks and pecking at the barrier between the them in the run I have them in during the day...
MC-- if your outside run is shaded, well ventilated (ex my chick run is 4 window screens built onto an A frame of lumber with a window blind ontop that provides dappled sunlight) and the chicks arent laying around showing symptoms of heat stress- panting and dropping their little winglets, etc....
Also put a little cardboard Box upside down, with a hole cut inthe side and fill with straw for them to cuddle up in- they like to pile up in a little heap, also maybe keep them inside for the first couple of days so you can make sure they are healthy etc... They are so fragile at first...
Yes I would put them out during the day and in at night-- 70 degrees is too cold for newborns you still need heat lamp for a couple weeks at least ...

Sounds like the only 1 you need to worry about is the one doing the stare down. If anything I would swap that particular chick to the other side after adding the younger group if any problems arise. Just keep an eye on them the 1st couple days to make sure they are not doing a lot of feather-picking & such. Sounds like you have a "head hen" in the older group already. If she causes problems just separate her out to the other pen for about a week. That will drop her status in the flock & when you put her back she will be too busy reestablishing herself with the older girls to bother the younger ones.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Sounds like the only 1 you need to worry about is the one doing the stare down. If anything I would swap that particular chick to the other side after adding the younger group if any problems arise. Just keep an eye on them the 1st couple days to make sure they are not doing a lot of feather-picking & such. Sounds like you have a "head hen" in the older group already. If she causes problems just separate her out to the other pen for about a week. That will drop her status in the flock & when you put her back she will be too busy reestablishing herself with the older girls to bother the younger ones.

Ok thanx will do...