How long before my chicks can go I to their coop?

They are 4 week old wyandotte and easter eggers.6 altogether. Not quite fully feathered but almost there. They are in the house but haven't been under the light since 2 weeks old. I'm in California and our Temps right now are about 70 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night. I've let them play in their coop during the day and they love it. I would like to leave them out overnight but worry about them getting cold.

Once they are fully feathered they should be ready to go outside. A heat lamp probably isn't needed, if they get cold they will huddle. If you really feel that they need the heat lamp, then hang the lamp in the coop not as a heat lamp but as a heat source for the coop. The heat from the lamp will maintain an even warmth in the whole coop, no need to maintain a brooder setup once they are feathered and outside.



My current flock have been outside for almost a week now. The chicks were hatched the first week of April and are fully feathered. They love being outside and I love that they love being outside.



They greet me every morning when I open the coop for the day. Night time temps here in Colorado have been in the low 40"s to upper 30's. Their body heat keeps them warm inside the coop, and if they get cold they snuggle. If you don't keep Feed Hoppers & Waterers in the coop with the chicks, make sure that they get a nice drink of water before they are locked up for the night.

I put them away each night at around sunset. They will complain and make noise, they are not ready for bed and will want to stay up longer...some people's kids.

At this stage they are still learning about the world around them, everything is going to be new to them for the next year.

Your biggest concern once they are first outside is wet weather, wet cold chicks are dead chicks. I was late getting my little ones outside this year due to the rains we've been having lately. (Even more rain forecast for this weekend) If it rains, your little ones may or may not know to seek shelter. So if weather rolls in, you will want to be around to ensure that the chicks stay dry and out of the weather.

My first flock went outside at 5 weeks old with temps similar to yours with no extra heat. Yes they will huddle to keep warm if necessasary

Rock Home Isle said:

Once they are fully feathered they should be ready to go outside. A heat lamp probably isn't needed, if they get cold they will huddle. If you really feel that they need the heat lamp, then hang the lamp in the coop not as a heat lamp but as a heat source for the coop. The heat from the lamp will maintain an even warmth in the whole coop, no need to maintain a brooder setup once they are feathered and outside. My current flock have been outside for almost a week now. The chicks were hatched the first week of April and are fully feathered. They love being outside and I love that they love being outside. They greet me every morning when I open the coop for the day. Night time temps here in Colorado have been in the low 40"s to upper 30's. Their body heat keeps them warm inside the coop, and if they get cold they snuggle. If you don't keep Feed Hoppers & Waterers in the coop with the chicks, make sure that they get a nice drink of water before they are locked up for the night. I put them away each night at around sunset. They will complain and make noise, they are not ready for bed and will want to stay up longer...some people's kids. At this stage they are still learning about the world around them, everything is going to be new to them for the next year. Your biggest concern once they are first outside is wet weather, wet cold chicks are dead chicks. I was late getting my little ones outside this year due to the rains we've been having lately. (Even more rain forecast for this weekend) If it rains, your little ones may or may not know to seek shelter. So if weather rolls in, you will want to be around to ensure that the chicks stay dry and out of the weather.

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Mostly I was wondering if the light is necessary when they go out.I don't feel comfortable leaving it on outside overnight. We have a temporary small henhouse with lots of straw that is completely shielded from the outside weather for when they sleep. It won't last long because it's not big enough for when they are older but right now they all fit in it quite well. They have just about outgrown their crate and I need it for my bantams now that they are starting to fly haha.

RonC said:

My first flock went outside at 5 weeks old with temps similar to yours with no extra heat. Yes they will huddle to keep warm if necessasary

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Thanks that's a relief.