Whether to put chicks outside now or not

[chaosfactory]

my first batch of babies was 5 weeks old when I put them outside and it was summer.....and they all huddled up under a low shelf right inside the door to sleep for the first week or so and then they started roosting higher and higher as they grew....so yours might be like mine were....they just slept where they felt safe and huddled up for company and not because they were cold!

 

[GardenState38]

Quote:
What average temperature have they been kept at? If they are put out in the coop in 30 degree temperatures suddenly, after having been kept at 70 degree room temperature for the most part...it is irresponsible for anyone to tell you to subject them to that sudden, 40 degree drop in temperature. NOT having been raised in the wild, they are NOT acclimated to survive driving winds and 30 below temperatures. They are pet bantams, no? (I have a definite problem believing the hogwash that Gallus, in particular, is a species adapted to comfortably survive -30 degree temperatures. The species did not originate in freezing cold climates--quite the opposite. If anything, CERTAIN breeds were developed by human intervention to withstand life in colder climes. Moreover, some breeds are definitely NOT suited to such low temperatures....unless you don't mind watching combless, toeless chickens hobbling around...that's another matter)

It's the OP's decision whether or not to add heat -- This is not a right or wrong decision, and she should realize that while there are differing philosophies about whether a chicken's life is worth the extra few bucks on the heating bill, a sudden drop in temperature is simply not conducive to keeping your birds healthy and comfortable.
Huddling is natural, yes. But huddling AND loud chirping? That sounds like discomfort to me. No one should make her feel guilty or foolish about caring about her birds.

It's quite possible to add heat to your coop safely and efficiently--I'm not talking about keeping it as warm as your house--just keeping it from extreme lows, so that your birds continue to utilize their energies to thrive, rather than just survive, over the winter.
Many people who keep chickens as pets successfully use heat in the coop. Some people also keep house chickens. Old MacDonald may have a problem with this, but Old MacDonald can keep his own flock however he likes.

I was fortunate to have been able to transition my girls at a time when they could gradually and naturally become acclimated to lowering temperatures. I personally don't want the coop to drop far below 32, so I have a waterproof, safety-corded heating mat (kind used in outdoor doghouses) on the floor of the coop to add some heat when it gets down below freezing. There are also radiant heating panels available--also not a fire hazard--that can be used to keep temperatures above freezing. Also available are thermo-cubes...adapters that plug into the outlet and turn your heater on when temperatures fall below 35, and turn it off when it rises to 45.
Just make sure that there is sufficient ventilation for humidity to escape if you're using a heat source. I keep a thermometer/hygrometer inside my coop at all times to monitor temperature and humidity, and make adjustments as necessary.

 

[The Breaker]

as long as ther fully featherd they will be fine.