5 1/2 weeks old- When to go outside??

[ChickenWhisperer101]

Hi y’all,

My chicks that I hatched October 13th are now 5 1/2 weeks old. I was wondering when I can put them outside during the day and when they can go outside permanently. The low during the day is low 70s and the low during night time is low 50s- high 40s.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

@Overo Mare

 

[Painted Calls]

If they are fully feathered out, they can go out.

 

[3KillerBs]

Assuming that they're fully-feathered, last week.

They'll need to acclimate if they're accustomed to very warm temperatures in the brooder, but those temperatures are beautifully moderate and well within a fully-feathered chick's ability to cope with.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

So can I put them out during the day?

 

[3KillerBs]

So can I put them out during the day?

Absolutely! They could have been going out in those temperatures for a while now already and will absolutely LOVE getting out to encounter the world.

Here is the story of my most recent chicks getting off heat and integrated into the flock: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/25-from-welp.1494343/page-7#post-25018803

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At 5.5 weeks, they can be out full time now in Texas.
I've had younger birds out day and night at those temps. Although there are enough of them to keep each other warm and two are with a mother hen.