5 week old chicks ok to go outside?

[azygous]

If you were wearing a full down parka, would you need any extra heat, especially if the temp was 90F?

Chick by five or six weeks are fully feathered to the equivalent of wearing a down parka. They certainly do not need a heat lamp at 90 F. Or even 60F. Would you?

 

[Kershylyn]

I live 20 miles away from the ocean in southern Oregon. Nights get down to the lower 30s - 50s. 8 weeks ago I put my 13, week-wk 1/2 old chicks outside. I watched the weather knowing that it would be cool, as in low 40s but not in the 30s yet. No heat lamp, just in a rectangular cardboard box left on its side, inside a coop box 2' by 1' wide. I left them with lots of hay to lay on and closed up the doors. They all did great! Even the week after when it was in the lower 30s. They are all 9 weeks old now and I took the cardboard box out 4 weeks ago. At that same time I left the front door open to their run. They are closed off from my 4 older chickens so that the older ones can adjust to the younger ones who will soon be transitioned to the group.

 

[lesliekg]

I live in Denver and it has been around 80...wow! I just put my 6 girls outside...coop in the sun, they are 5 weeks old and feathering. They seem scared but, the thermometer inside their closed in area is about 80- 90 right now.... 1:30pm. I intend to bring them inside this afternoon around 5 or 6 when it starts to cool down... any comments? I don't want them to get sick but I've heard that they can't go outside until they're 12 weeks old which seems a bit much... they're getting too big for the tub they've been living in and it must be so boring for them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

5 weeks is fine, they should be well feathered enough by that point to be able to handle the cooler night temperatures. I kicked mine out at 5 weeks since I needed the tub they were in and it was much cooler here than where you are.

 

[rubyedmonds]

If the pullets are fully feathered they will be fine.

 

[Ducks4us]

I live in Denver and it has been around 80...wow! I just put my 6 girls outside...coop in the sun,  they are 5 weeks old and feathering. They seem scared but, the thermometer inside their closed in area is about 80- 90 right now.... 1:30pm. I intend to bring them inside this afternoon around 5 or 6 when it starts to cool down... any comments? I don't want them to get sick but I've heard that they can't go outside until they're 12 weeks old which seems a bit much... they're getting too big for the tub they've been living in and it must be so boring for them.

Yes they will be just fine outside with those temps. In fact with temps of 80-90 i would actually be more worried about the heat than the cold.
Is there anyway to get some cooler temps in there?
They need somewhere to get away from that much heat.
Maybe More ventilation?
I have had 5 week olds outdoors in night temps of 30 degrees and they thrived ! So i dont think you have anything to worry about on the cold side

 

[DrFeathers]

Thanks for posting - I was nervous kicking my 5wk olds out tonight, their first night out of the garage (in their coop) will be low of 49 but they are full feathered and so far in the upper 50's they are hanging out in a row in the roosting bar.

Yes they will be just fine outside with those temps. In fact with temps of 80-90 i would actually be more worried about the heat than the cold.
Is there anyway to get some cooler temps in there?
They need somewhere to get away from that much heat.
Maybe More ventilation?
I have had 5 week olds outdoors in night temps of 30 degrees and they thrived ! So i dont think you have anything to worry about on the cold side

 

[Ducks4us]

Thanks for posting - I was nervous kicking my 5wk olds out tonight, their first night out of the garage (in their coop) will be low of 49 but they are full feathered and so far in the upper 50's they are hanging out in a row in the roosting bar.

Yep

Yours will prob be happy to be outside! Mine are