When can chicks go outside

I began putting my chicks outside during the day in a chick tractor when they were 3 weeks old. Some advise against this, but they were growing restless in the brooder that I keep inside my house. I wanted them to be able to get sunshine and fresh air, and bring them in at night, so I tried it and they were fine. At 4 weeks old I added roosts to the chick tractor outside and moved them out of the brooder for good. That whole week weather was in the upper 60s at night. They were very close to being fully feathered. Week 5 is this week and weather has been in the 50s at night. We secured a tarp over the chick tractor to keep cold air from blowing on them and it even rained once in the night without me knowing. So far I see no signs of distress from them, in fact, they have been thriving outside. They seem to love it. It also gives them much longer to get to know my 4 RSL hens that free range the backyard without the big girls being able to hurt the little ones. I've been prepared to move them into the laundry room if weather got too bad or if they showed any signs of distress but so far everything has been great. They love chicken practice :) they like to watch the big chickens and do what they are doing.

Now they are in the beginning stages of growing restless in the chick tractor.
1f605.png
I will most likely be attempting to integrate them into my other flock a bit sooner than recommended as well, by making a safe place the chicks can go where they can get away from anything bigger than them.
 
I started mine outside at a week old for a few hours on a nice day. Now they look forward to that every afternoon after I get home. They are two weeks old. At four weeks they will be in the coop overnight.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom