young chicks out with no heat in snowstorm?

[Minky]

So my chicks are 5, 4, 4 and 3 weeks old. The 5 wk old is all feathered out, and the 3 other birds are mostly feathered.
I moved them into the barn into their own little space- 2 days ago, to be in with the flock,- when I noticed they werent using the heat pad (mama heating pad method) during the day at all- and would go under only at night. (heat pad on level 2 in my 3 seasons room)...
I wasnt too worried last night, (it was just above freezing last night--as they are in a small 4x 4 pen with a cardboard huddle box(aka."cuddle" box). Its full of shavings and straw, and has straw below, behind and above it. Also a mound in front of the 4 x 4 hole I made for them to climb into it.(like a little bird house on the ground). Its about 1 sq foot and there are 4 birds.
Today the weather got crazy at about 2 pm, and started snowing- and crazy winds-- now there is 5 inches on the ground and its still very windy, but only -4 c (25F).
Now Im suddenly worried that its too cold for them. Im not sure what to do. I went out just now in the blustery wind and snow... with a heat pad and extention cord..... but when i got in the barn it was okay.... no draft, not a bad temp (although the waters had frozen crust on them) the 4 chicks were all in the box, and quiet. They started chatter peeping when my flashlight shone on the box... I covered it completely with straw, and put flat pieces of cardboard behind and around the little pen they are in. also mounded the straw to sort of "block" the front opening. they will have to work their way out in the morning, thats for sure!
in the barn I also have a broody hen with her 9 chicks that are 9 days old, and they seemed perfectly fine- not worried about them. And my 6 adult flock members seemed cozy.

Should I be worried, or will my 4 little chicks be ok?

 

[azygous]

They'll be fine. But the really cold temps following the the storm could be the real challenge. You might make the heating pad available again for when the temperature takes a real dive. They'll use it if they need it. If not, at least you will know it's there for them should they need it.

 

[Minky]

ok, thanks Im glad you think so.
I will set up the heating pad tomorrow now that I know spring is NOT around the corner. I just really didnt want to wake up to any chick-sicles. These are my first hand raised chicks and I like them. a lot.

 

[Blooie]

The only thing I’m not sure of is piling the straw in front of the entrance so they have to kinda dig out. I am no scientist or expert, but fresh air - even cold air - is better than the moist, carbon dioxide laden air, and they may not know how to get out. I could be blowing smoke here and worrying you unnecessarily, but I’d rather think it and say it than think it and not say it. I’ve been wrong before and the sun still came up the next morning and the birdies still sang.

My chicks - even at a couple of weeks old and with no “more feathered” flockmates to snuggle with, did fine in temps in the teens and 20s with snow as long as they could choose for themselves whether to use the heating pad or not. If you put MHP back in, the chicks who still need it will use it and those who need less heat will either flake out on top of it or tucked in beside it if they get a little chilled and need a few minutes of warming up. Older chicks don’t need to be under the pad all of the time, and since we aren’t watching them 24/7 they could still be using it and we just don’t notice it.

Edited heavily because I have fat fingers on a teeny little phone keypad. <sigh>

 

[drumstick diva]

agree with Blooie

 

[Minky]

I wasnt too worried about moisture, I have the driest barn ever, and the box had a couple holes in it because it was one of those "live animal boxes" with holes, plus handle holes, so moisture from 4 little chicks' breath wasnt a concern.
They were fine when I checked on them at 8am, not even in the box. I did add the heating pad - I folded it in half and secured it to the ceiling of the box with a little chicken wire! Not sure they need it, but now I dont have to worry about much except frozen water.

thanks again!!

 

[Blooie]

Just goes to show ya how the mental image can deviate from the typed words! From your description I was picturing a pile of straw with chicks under it somewhere! Teehee. Glad they did well overnight.