5 weeks old ready for outside living / free range?

[wconstantine]

We have 9 - 5 week old chickens and 7 adult hens. I was wondering when it was safe to put them in their own outside coop at night as well as when the could free range?

At the moment, they go out in our large dog crate and then I turn them out to the dog kennel turned chicken run.

I'm wondering if I let them outside the kennel they may venture too far. We have 16 wooded acres and plenty of predators.

We live in upstate NY near the Vermont border to give you an idea of weather.

 

[4 the Birds]

We move them from the brooder to the coop at 6 weeks of age. My only chicken losses have been young birds during the first few weeks out free ranging. I isolate them in a coop area for a few weeks to get use to the big birds. After a few weeks they are ready to free range and meet the flock. Sometimes the young ones are unaware of dangers and don't take cover or know to get into the coop at dusk. I have never lost an adult bird and they free range dawn to dusk.

6 week old pullets out in the coop isolation area... A few weeks more and then they join the flock and free range


The birds free ranging.

Hope this helps!

 

[KAMoHunter427]

That far north I would be worried about the temps at night. Unless u keep a heat lamp on them. I can't imagine them being fully feathered on their backs especially at that age.

 

[samygwin9]

I agree with KAMoHunter427. something tells me you should wait another couple weeks just to be on the safe side.

 

[samygwin9]

I agree with KAMoHunter427. something tells me you should wait another couple weeks just to be on the safe side.