When can baby chicks live outside?

We are not yet ready to put the baby chicks in their coop because it's not yet finished, so for now, they are in a brooder inside the house. I'd like to get them acclimated to outdoors as soon as possible so when the coop is finished, they will be ready (and so will I).

I do have a small wrench in my plans that worries me a little bit. We are supposed to go on vacation---just for two nights---on the 11th of June (through the 13th of June). I was hoping to have the chicks living in the coop by then, but I'm really not sure whether that's possible or not.

Our chicks are just a few days old, I think, downy still and so sweet. They are getting their feathery wings and I can see some tail feathers starting on one of them. They are the ones pictured in my avatar if that helps at all. The photo was taken yesterday (Sunday, May 20).

Anyway--our weather is pretty warm, but no telling what it will be like in June. This past week as seen daily temps of between 75 and 95, and nightly temps between 45-55.

I have a few questions whose answers might help me get a picture in my mind of how to work this move for my chicks.

*Given our regular present temps, when would I be able to move the chicks outside? (when they have all their feathers, some...?)

*Right now I have a 125 watt lamp for them, but should I purchase a 250 watt lamp for when we move them outdoors?

*Would you recommend that I keep them in my brooder while we are on vacation? I have a friend who will come care for our bunnies and chicks while we are gone, so they won't be completely alone and uncared for.

*Is there anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance!

Once you go on vacation, your chicks will already be about 4 weeks old or so. 4 week olds will need to be kept at about 75* Fahrenheit. It's way too soon to put them in the coop right now at the age they are at. A field trip while being supervised outside for a little bit is fine, weather permitting.

If you place the heat lamp in one corner of your coop while being on vacation (but have it so they can get away from it if they want to). That should be okay. Just make sure that your coop is predator proof.

My chicks have been in thier coop and out side for 2 weeks. They are 5 weeks old now. They come and go as they please. At about 8 o'clock they make there way up the ramp and bed down for the night!

Personally I'd leave them in the brooder & have your friend come by. That's great you have a willing sitter!

Thanks so much, Sunny! That really helps.

Is there some kind of chart that will give me guidelines for what temps they need at what ages?

Thanks in advance!

Attila said:

My chicks have been in thier coop and out side for 2 weeks. They are 5 weeks old now. They come and go as they please. At about 8 o'clock they make there way up the ramp and bed down for the night!

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Hey Attila---thanks for sharing. What are your regular day and night temps these days? Do you have a lamp where your guys bed down?

ChickiesInUtah said:

Personally I'd leave them in the brooder & have your friend come by. That's great you have a willing sitter!

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Yeah, I'm really happy to have a friend that knows how to care for animals and loves to do it.

My brooder is just a rubbermaid tote with a light (and of course, food, pine shavings, water). Do you think they would be too big for the brooder at around 4 weeks?

Ours are in a tote too and are about 4 weeks old. They seem pretty comfy in there, I just took this pic for reference:

ChickiesInUtah said:

Ours are in a tote too and are about 4 weeks old. They seem pretty comfy in there, I just took this pic for reference:

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Yeah, they do look comfy! For some reason I was thinking they would be much bigger at 4 weeks. Great---I'm so glad I have this option open to me. Thanks for the pic, Chickies. I'm a visual person so pictures are always more helpful than words.

I hope yours end up at the same size at four weeks. These are my first chickens, so I have no idea what's typical.