5 week old chicks in garage

[catterbug]

I have 5 and 6 week old chicks. There are getting way to big for my tub in the basement. I have a large plywood box that they could move freely in and we built a roost. I know it is too cold and they are too young yet to go into the coop. I was wondering if I could move them into the garage if I still keep a heat lamp on them. The lid that would cover is half plywood and then just grates on the other half for ventilation. It is in the 30's at night but warmer during the day. Like maybe mid to high 40's. They seem fully feathered except for a few pieces around their head. I think the exercise would be good but I just don't want to cause health problems for them.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I have always moved my chicks outside at 6 weeks old and had great success...This year I have too many chicks(23) to keep in the house for that long so I moved them out to the coop 2 days ago and they are 4 weeks, so far so good and they are loving the space. I have 2 heat lamps on at night and turn one off during the day and thier temps are staying around 70. Good luck, I think they are old enough to go outside in my oppinion.

 

[daddysgirlz]

I ran into the same problem with six chicks out growing the basement....I just moved them into the garage in a closed in coop box and a heat lamp....the garage stays warmer at night and now I don't have to smell those growing, messy, loud and energetic chicks in my laundry room anymore! They are happier with the larger space as well..they seem to be ok so far...

 

[Fred's Hens]

I brood completely in the barn or in the garage. It was in the mid-teens for low last night. High today is 43. The week old chicks were just fine. It is 80-85 under the heat lamps. It is all way too much smell and dust for my wife to do anything like this indoors. I always brood in an out building.

 

[Judy]

I brooded 25 in the house one year, in winter. Ended up moving them out early, and will never do that again.

They are hardier than we think, IMO, especially at 3-4 weeks.

 

[suzyQlou]

Mine are in the garage. At three weeks, they seemed too big for the tub, so I added a 4x4 enclosure around the tub. Now they hop out of the tub during the day to peck at the sod I have out there. When they're cold or tired, they hop back in and snooze under the heat lamp. Your big box sounds like a good solution. The chicks will find the heat if they need it.

 

[AlienChick]

I moved mine outside to the shed when they were 4 weeks old.

It was DEFINITELY time to get them OUT of the house!