when are Sleep Overs Over?

[MrsMVP]

We recently bought 9 chicks of different ages. 1 black Orpington and 4 Bresse (all about 1 week) and then 4 chocolate orpingtons who are considerably older. I'm not sure exactly how old but they have lost more than 50% of their fluff and have feathered wings, back, and some have tails starting. They look like teenagers of the chick variety.

I don't really like having these two age groups together and the chocolates have been spending all day out in the garden with no trouble. The big chicks come inside and sleep over with the fluffy babies at night still. When can they spend the night outside w/o a heat lamp?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I'd imagine its pretty warm in CA this time of the year. What are your night time temps?

 

[MrsMVP]

Nights tho week are in the mid to uppers 40s

 

[MrsMVP]

What temperature range is safe for them?

 

[KissellChickens]

We have chicks right now as well. Some that are a few days old and some that are a couple weeks old. We have them all in the same pen and directly under our lamp the temperature reads right around 95-100 degrees. The older ones move away from the heat lamp when they're too warm and the young one cozy up right under it. I'd say just monitor their activity, if they're too warm they'll move away and that might be a hint to raise the lamp up a bit. Hope this helps!

 

[junebuggena]

If they are mostly feathered in, they are good to stay out permanently.