Will these Chicks be OK? Too cold??? Pics.

[silkiechicken]

Yes, a second lamp is a very good idea for chicks that young. Just be sure that both lamps are so tied down and earthquake and a large witty coon wouldn't be able to take it off and drop it on the ground.

Out of curiosity, I wiki'ed the average temps of where I live for the year... Paine field where they measued the temps is about 2 minutes from the end of my drive way. Scroll down to climate and you can see the map. It's really intersting to look up other cities and see how big a difference there is between night and day temps, and seasonal teps for cities in the US. Boy do I like that big puddle of water called the puget sound and pacific ocean.

Average Weather

 

[plapczynski]

I am new here, but it is your lamp that scares me. It looks like you have it hanging by it's cord (a fire hazard.) Please excuse me if I am wrong.

There should be a little wire loop/hanger on the lamp that a small metal chain can be ran through to hang the lamp. Don't use rope/cord it will burn. You're betting your nice new coop and chicks that the person that made the lamp tightened the screws well.

 

[MaransGuy]

I find that my chicks are fully feathered out at 4 weeks old and that is when I typically move them out. I just moved some 4-week olds out in January and did not have a problem. They did have a heat lamp but it was not uncommon to find their water frozen in the morning. The main thing is to judge it based on the development of the chicks. Not all breeds mature at the same rate and it is important to watch their behaviour as has been described.

Richard

 

[mergmet]

I agree with many here, I have about 75-100 chicks under 2 red 250 bulbs in a wind protected area inside the chicken barn. Even on the coldest days here the waterers don't freeze. The heat from the adult birds keeps in decent in there.

My chicks do stay in the house until 1-2 weeks and they at least start feathering. The bantams and slower maturing chicks will stay inside longer. I wait until they are at least holding their own and obviously know how to get in and out of the heat.

directly under my lamps is 95-105 also, most of the chicks don't stay directly below for long, and as they get bigger they spread out and get further from the heat.

my large breeds like the marans and buff orpingtons are fat little guys. They grow fast and start to feather immediately. I find that sebrights and ameraucanas are slower and need more heat, even though they also feather quickly

they do have to move away from the heat for water, so unless they are moving about well and able to find the waterer, they stay in a bit longer.

I like your house! I agree also with whoever said to put a barrier up completely around your box, BUT, make sure they can also get away from the heat. Sometimes deep straw trips them up.

good luck!

Margaret

 

[sfisher]

Was that a chicken coop, or your mother-inlaws house?

 

[Brian]

Quote:
Wait...you mean they can't be one in the same thing???

 

[jab91864]

Wow, gotta say I love your chicken coop....too good for the MIL in my opinion...lol.

As long as they are contained like others said so they cannot wander away from the heat...big box. I have a wooden box that I like to use and I cover it with a pc of scrap paneling 3/4 of the way and then a smaller pc at the area by the lighted end...helps to trap heat inside their area.
No drafts and kept dry at all times they will be ok.

The heat source is the part that keeps me from moving chicks to the coop...I fire phobia. And my temps here drop to zero and below at night.

Best of luck!!

Julie

 

[JackieK318]

Quote:
Just wait until one falls asleep in the yard sunbathing! I thought one of my chickens was dead laying in the middle of the yard like that. I'd air on the side of caution. You don't want sick chicks. Once one is sick, they're all sick, and it's hard to rid them of illness much of the time since they're so sensitive.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I've copied this to increase the chance it gets noticed

Also, really a heat lamp ought to be double hung, from two separate chains attached to two unrelated pieces of barn or whatever. Just In Case.

Heat lamps are really a fairly common source of barn fires and like several other posters it gives me the willies to see the ways they are so often slung around.

End of public service announcement

Pat

 

[Penske]

Wow! This thread could not have come at a better time. My chicks will arrive next Tuesday-16 of them!! We are very excited. Our plan is to brood them from the start in the coop (no drafts, bought a light-free chick warmer from shopthecoop, and have heat lamps as well, if needed. We planned to put them in a 3x3 cardboard box and then remove the box when they need more room and use brooder guard. Plan to put 3" pine shavings on the floor with paper toweling on top of that for the first week (?). Our temps get to the 30's at night and the coop stays about 5 degrees warmer with windows and vents closed. Coop is well-built 8' walls, peak ceiling, 71 sq feet of floor space for the girls.

Will they be ok??????????? I am a nervous nellie!!

If I understand correctly, if the temp in the box is 95 under the light and warm throughout the box, the general air temp of the coop does not matter????

Thanks! Lisa