Chicks and Outside Temps

What temp would you want it to be (assuming average feather on chicks, sunny and not terribly windy) to put 4 week old chicks outside for a few hours in a chicken tractor? How about 5 week old chicks? TIA!

Hi.

All parameters you stated... my temp rarely get above 65 in the dead of summer... So my chicks head out around 50 degrees with a huddle box, opening facing the sunny side. And they can usually get enough shade on the sides or behind the box if they need to.

I usually bring dirt in a few days before that to get some exposure to the stuff. But keeping it to a couple hours of exposure the first few days is good.

Have even taken out 3 day old chicks before. And I have a broody with chicks outside right now and our high today will be 45. But since it's cloudy, that's a little too cool for my indoor brooded chicks. Sun makes all the difference.

And 4 or 5 weeks old, they should be pretty good.

If it was going to be much colder... I would provide a heat source (maybe) in the huddle box and still let them enjoy the outdoors and just pop back in to warm up when they needed. Even if it doesn't save me energy, they more time they spend on pasture, the less shavings I go through and less cleaning I have to do! More time I spend enjoying my birds.

Oh how they instantly get all hyper flapping their wings with new room when they get to go out!

Huddle box to give a little more warmth is a GREAT idea, thanks! I will definitely do that. They are Cornish X chicks and I know I started them early (hatch 2/8) but I would like to get them outside as early as I can without chilling them, even if it's just a few sunny hours per day. Since their time's limited, would like them to at least be able to enjoy it and do some chickeny fun things.

I also hatched on 2/8!

We get sooo much rain they haven't made it out yet, except the ones I adopted to the broody. But I can't wait!

We treat all our animals well, no matter their destination.

Ha! This exactly what I was looking for. Thanks EggSighted for your insight. my girls hatched 2/6 and since the temps plummeted this week i was very concerned about putting my girls out. I plan on introducing them to the flock at the typical 8 week mark but I wanted to let them out during the day...my concern was that its 70 in my brooder (I've tried to get it cooler but its in my basement and that's the ambient temp). It should be 50 during the day so I'll give it a shot.

lonniedeohio said:

Ha! This exactly what I was looking for. Thanks EggSighted for your insight. my girls hatched 2/6 and since the temps plummeted this week i was very concerned about putting my girls out. I plan on introducing them to the flock at the typical 8 week mark but I wanted to let them out during the day...my concern was that its 70 in my brooder (I've tried to get it cooler but its in my basement and that's the ambient temp). It should be 50 during the day so I'll give it a shot.

Click to expand...

Welcome to BYC!

So my outdoor temps have been ranging between 49-57... had chicks out most of the past few days even though it was semi cloudy and a breeze around 8 mph. They did great and were happily foraging away on the grass and bugs.

They are always nervous on their first trip out and take just a little while to settle in. So many new things for them to experience. Stinks after they have been out for a few days and the rain returns. Makes them a little restless in the brooder.

Definitely give it a shot. You can always take them back in after you've given them a chance to calm down if they seem too cold (all huddled and loud peeping). And don't forget a huddle box. Aside from being warm, it gives them a little cover and a place they can run to for safety (in their mind at least).

Pics always welcome!