Supplemental heat - chicks standing up on roost at night

[Kailcar]

Hello!

This is my first year with my chicks and I feel like I'm overdoing it, so I'm hoping I can get some insight/wisdom (my husband will sure appreciate it because I'm driving him crazy ).

I live in Oklahoma and we just got a nice little cold snap in our weather. I moved our 6 chicks outside about 2 weeks ago at 6 weeks old when the weather was in the highs of 60's and lows at night around 40's. They are in an enclosed coop with ventilation and no drafts, fully feathered and cold hardier breeds (2 buff orpingtons and 4 barred rocks). The lowest temps we've had are highs in 40's and lows in high 20's. They have had a heater plate out there for some of the colder nights but it was kept on the opposite side of the coop.

The chicks are now 8 weeks old and we had a cold front move in with highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid-teens for the next week. Last night it got down to 14, so I turned on the heater plate and moved it closer to the roosts. I have a temperature gauge on the 2nd rung roost and it said the lowest it got in that location was 23 degrees. This morning I looked on the camera and 4 of the 6 chicks were sleeping standing up on the roost. I read that they will do that sometimes when trying to cool down.

So... Is my husband right and I overdid it with the heat? Do you think I even need the heat at the temperatures we're having (or should I just leave it on the opposite side of the coop like I had before?

Thank you for any insight you can offer! This community has always been helpful

 

[Logar]

Hello!

This is my first year with my chicks and I feel like I'm overdoing it, so I'm hoping I can get some insight/wisdom (my husband will sure appreciate it because I'm driving him crazy ).

I live in Oklahoma and we just got a nice little cold snap in our weather. I moved our 6 chicks outside about 2 weeks ago at 6 weeks old when the weather was in the highs of 60's and lows at night around 40's. They are in an enclosed coop with ventilation and no drafts, fully feathered and cold hardier breeds (2 buff orpingtons and 4 barred rocks). The lowest temps we've had are highs in 40's and lows in high 20's. They have had a heater plate out there for some of the colder nights but it was kept on the opposite side of the coop.

The chicks are now 8 weeks old and we had a cold front move in with highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid-teens for the next week. Last night it got down to 14, so I turned on the heater plate and moved it closer to the roosts. I have a temperature gauge on the 2nd rung roost and it said the lowest it got in that location was 23 degrees. This morning I looked on the camera and 4 of the 6 chicks were sleeping standing up on the roost. I read that they will do that sometimes when trying to cool down.

So... Is my husband right and I overdid it with the heat? Do you think I even need the heat at the temperatures we're having (or should I just leave it on the opposite side of the coop like I had before?

Thank you for any insight you can offer! This community has always been helpful

I would ditch the heat. They will be fine, even at temperatures much lower than that

 

[Soonerchic]

I would ditch the heat. They will be fine, even at temperatures much lower than that

I'm new to chickens and in Oklahoma as well. Mine are laying. Do I need to worry about frozen eggs? I have to leave the door open for access to the coop during the day. The thing with OK is it will be 14 degrees but the windchill will have us the single to negative digits.

 

[Logar]

I'm new to chickens and in Oklahoma as well. Mine are laying. Do I need to worry about frozen eggs? I have to leave the door open for access to the coop during the day. The thing with OK is it will be 14 degrees but the windchill will have us the single to negative digits.

If you are able to collect eggs daily or twice a day i wouldn’t worry. The other thing is, assuming that is the low, it is going to be warmer for most of the day. I haven’t hand issues with it being in the low 20s and not collecting eggs until well after dark.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I'm new to chickens and in Oklahoma as well. Mine are laying. Do I need to worry about frozen eggs? I have to leave the door open for access to the coop during the day. The thing with OK is it will be 14 degrees but the windchill will have us the single to negative digits.

Yea, that temp perks my attention for the hens. 14 degrees with a negative windchill, yes eggs will freeze, water will freeze. Be sure all hens can have a safe place to escape from any drafts. My hens will stay in the henhouse at that temp. Especially with that wind chill. On days like that, I make sure I witness every chicken eat, drink, scratch. a little morsel of some extra protein is a nice treat in the cold weather. Maybe a little scrambled egg or some warm water added to their feed to make an oatmeal like texture. I just came inside from changing frozen waters and checkin' the chooks. Its 25 so the girls are fine atm. If your a nervous nelly like me, get a camera so you can check them whenever you want. Good Luck winter chickens!

 

[RoyalChick]

Hello!

This is my first year with my chicks and I feel like I'm overdoing it, so I'm hoping I can get some insight/wisdom (my husband will sure appreciate it because I'm driving him crazy ).

I live in Oklahoma and we just got a nice little cold snap in our weather. I moved our 6 chicks outside about 2 weeks ago at 6 weeks old when the weather was in the highs of 60's and lows at night around 40's. They are in an enclosed coop with ventilation and no drafts, fully feathered and cold hardier breeds (2 buff orpingtons and 4 barred rocks). The lowest temps we've had are highs in 40's and lows in high 20's. They have had a heater plate out there for some of the colder nights but it was kept on the opposite side of the coop.

The chicks are now 8 weeks old and we had a cold front move in with highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid-teens for the next week. Last night it got down to 14, so I turned on the heater plate and moved it closer to the roosts. I have a temperature gauge on the 2nd rung roost and it said the lowest it got in that location was 23 degrees. This morning I looked on the camera and 4 of the 6 chicks were sleeping standing up on the roost. I read that they will do that sometimes when trying to cool down.

So... Is my husband right and I overdid it with the heat? Do you think I even need the heat at the temperatures we're having (or should I just leave it on the opposite side of the coop like I had before?

Thank you for any insight you can offer! This community has always been helpful

Enjoy your chickens. You don’t need heat at those temperatures.
I don’t think they are standing because they are ‘too hot’ (sorry hubby), but they will be plenty warm enough in their down PJs.
If their toes get cold they will sit down and cover them in down and if their face gets cold they will tuck their head in under their feathers.
Mine often sleep standing up. And they move into different positions during the night. So don’t read too much into the whole standing up thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yours are fully feathered and acclimated. You said your coop is well ventilated but there are no breezes hitting them. You are giving them options and they are showing you what they prefer. I think the key is well-ventilated but no breezes hitting them.

When I was in Arkansas, across the border from you, I never locked my chickens in. I'd let them decide if they wanted to go out or not. Snow might keep them in the coop for a couple of days but then some would start going out in it. The coldest I had was -4 Fahrenheit with no snow. When I opened the pop door they went outside to enjoy the day. The sun was shining but the important thing was no wind. If a cold wind was blowing they would not be out where it could hit them. But since it was calm they were very happy outside.

In my opinion based on experiences in a climate similar to yours your chicks do not need any heat. If it makes you feel better, you can provide heat safely, and they can get away from it if they wish you can offer heat. Your feelings are important too but I do not provide heat.

 

[Kailcar]

Thank you everyone for your input! I am definitely a nervous Nellie and think everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Plus they're just babies!

I removed the heater and will let them be. They were outside playing in the run during 17° weather with no issues this morning, so I can't imagine sleeping during the same temperature would cause any harm. I appreciate all of you putting my mind at ease!