Texas Heat with Three Week old Chicks

[HollowOfWisps]

Just put them outside that is not what I would consider concerningly hot at all. It was 100F this weekend here and even my little chicks are outside. My chickens have done just fine up to 109F.

 

[TexasBlues]

I’m Georgetown! I want them to free range when I’m home but when I’m at work during the day they have a caged run. It’s completely shaded at all times even if some sun pokes though at the edge they still have plenty of shade. It’s also sand base because I read that was cooler. I’m just not sure if they can tolerate it at such a young age? At what weeks old should I not worry as much?

Just make sure they have some deep shade and a place to scratch into the cool ground and they should be fine.
And keep the water in deep shade. Mine get under some shrubs that are under a small mountain laurel tree that’s under a bigger pecan tree.

 

[thistlewick]

Yep I've had mine (they are now 2 and 3 weeks old but have been outside 1 week) outside in NC Piedmont (central) and it's hot as hell outside and heat index of 110 and those little buggers are toodlin around, eating grass and bugs like its the most normal thing in the world.

They are in a 100% shaded tractor with a coop and run.
They will be okay! Offer loads of shade and water the roof of the run if you can and the grass around them a little, every little bit helps!

 

[Kiki]

I'm in Houston.
My birds are 8 years old. They get fresh water a few times a day. That's it. No ice or fans. They are 8 years old.

 

[The Moonshiner]

What's the temperature they're at while inside?
If it's quite a temp change that might be an issue for them going back and forth between the two.

 

[Kenya Mwangi]

At what point is it okay for them to be out there full time? They don’t have much space indoors due to my baby and dog and I want to make sure they get enough space/exercise without them overheating while they are young

Hello They will like the heat better when they grow full feathers. The thing that is so hard is shock from cool indoor 70's to the abruptly afternoon heat at 2pm. That is so hard for a little chicken.

Acclimation is the thing that is best for this time of year. If you can put them outside in a safe location when it is coolest outside maybe at 5am would help the baby chicken to adjust to real heat as the day gets warmer. And to do this for more days than one or two.

If you can read about baby chicken heat outdoor acclimation or something it will explain better than me.

I forgot to say humidity makes it harder for a chicken. There is a chart from Gail Damerow I think that shows temperature and humidity danger zones for chickens probably on the image searches.

 

[Jml387]

What's the temperature they're at while inside?
If it's quite a temp change that might be an issue for them going back and forth between the two.

They are in my house (which is air conditioned) But in a small closet with a stand up heater and a brooder heater plate - unfortunately I don't have a window I can open to acclimate them better