4 Weeks old... can they go out?

[easthampton]

Hi, I have 6 chicks at 4 weeks old and they look pretty feathered... just a little fuzz still on some heads and necks. I had them inside under a lamp to keep it at 80 recently. It's gotten ridiculous because I have to run the AC and the lamp to keep the temp constant yet its 80 outside right now.

I just moved them out to a small coop inside my main coop and run so they are kept protected and away from the other birds for a while. Temps for the next 10 days say 80-90 during the day and 73-68 at night. It will be about 70 tonight and therefore cooler then they have experienced yet. I noticed they are all on the ground near each other sleeping since this is the first time the light has been off them. The mini coop / box (3' x 4' x 2') is closed up except for a crack at the top for air. No lamp.

I am assuming they will be fine since it is not cold and since there will be no drafts and their own body heat will probably make it slightly warmer then the air at night.

Can someone confirm my assumption? Do I have to open the lid and put the lamp on them again? It will be 70 in there and the lamp will make it 80.

Thanks!

 

[kburen]

My 4 week olds have been outside on my porch (room with a cement floor and windows all around) for the last 2 weeks. They haven't had a light at all for over a week and have done fine...It's even supposedly gotten down in the high 50's one or 2 nights.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They will be fine. It is plenty warm enough for chicks of that age.

 

[easthampton]

OK, thanks for the responses, just wanted to make sure.

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

I have five in a small chick tractor out side. Three of them were just over two weeks old and two were almost four weeks, when I put them out.
Days in the 90's and nights 70 and one night 60's. All has been well. They go in the little cubby part and huddle. I had to put them outside as they were just smelling too much inside and I have conure's in the room they were in. They needed fresh air.

 

[angrybird]

i put my 2 weeks old out side too ...it's cool here. day 7x, night 5x. they are happy and active