Chicks Moving out to the Coop

Karen711

Chirping
Oct 11, 2015
102
2
53
Sechelt, B.C.
I have read a few different things on when chicks can be moved to the coop. I am clear on the 6-8 weeks old is fine, it's the outside temperature I'm wondering about. I have read it should be 65 degrees before they can go out to the coop but then read 50 degrees ect. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
Last edited:
It's not so much the low or high temps you need to be concerned about, but rather whether the chicks are acclimated to them. There are places where people are wondering if their chicks are ready for the high summer temps outdoors.

If the chicks have been brooder-raised indoors in a warm ambient temperature and you want to move them outdoors to temps in the 30s or 40s(F), they need to become acclimated to those cool temps by slowing lowering their ambient environmental temperature over a period of several days. The same goes for moving the chicks to a high environmental temps from cool air-conditioned indoor temps.

The rule of thumb is you don't want to suddenly subject chickens to a swing in ambient temp higher than a ten to twenty-degree spread. For example, if a chicken has become acclimated to temps down in the teens and 20s(F) you don't want to bring them inside to temps in the 70s(F). They will go into heat stress in a very short time. People who need to bring a sick hen indoors under those circumstances need to find a cool place, like an unheated garage in which to keep the sick hen or slowly acclimate her to rising temps over a few day.

So, if you're moving the chicks from an indoor temp to an outdoor temp of 50F at night, they can handle that right away. Any colder, they should be slowly acclimatized to the lower temps rather than being subjected to it immediately.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom