3 Weeks Old Chicks (South Louisiana)

[an123]

I have 3 week old chicks in the brooder. The temps here have been upper 70's/day and mid 60's at night. When can I move them into the outdoor coop and run?

 

[Penguino1]

I have 3 week old chicks in the brooder. The temps here have been upper 70's/day and mid 60's at night. When can I move them into the outdoor coop and run?

In 1 week or so because of your nice weather. ASAP move the brooder outside and turn off the heat for at least an 1 hour everyday. You want them to start feathering in quicker, and you can always set up a simple huddle box outside.

 

[Dmontgomery]

I'd wait another couple weeks. By 5 weeks they should be fully feathered. We have a "cold front" forecast this week with temps dropping a little more. Historically we have a cold snap right around Easter every year. Just keep an eye on them. As you saw from the heavy storms Sunday, the weather here is too unpredictable!

 

[BullChick]

Or you can put them out now, and just listen for distress cries. I don't know how many chicks you have, or the size of your coop. I do know that I live up north, and discovered last year that at three weeks, my ducklings and chicks were fine outside this time of year. Even when we got a few inches of snow that lingered, they were quiet, and moving around casually. I then moved 1-week-olds out in mid-May. We still had a few frosts. They were fine (I was listening outside the coop as late as one in the morning, and again at six).

 

[beela]

My now 8 week old girls have been outside since they were 3 weeks old. We are in New Orleans, so they caught the cold snap, and those crazy spring storms. I didnt let them out into the run for the first few rains, but now I leave the pop door open for them unless it's a tornado watch. We have an 8×7 coop with an 8×16 run.

 

[an123]

Thanks for all the feedback. Right now I have them inside the temp stays right around 70-75 inside. They are at the point that they have their back feathers. Is a heat lamp even needed anymore?