5 weeks old, Ready for the big house ?

[areyoumymother]

It has been an overcast windy week here in Nevada Texas but my 5 week old RIR and Leghorn are all feathered out now and bustin out of the doggie crate they have been in since day 1, the temp has not fallen under 70 at night but just not confident they are ready for the big house. Am I just being an overprotective new chickymama ?

I also have 12 other 2 week olds that are in a small storage bin that are ready to graduate to the doggie crate because they are starting to jump ship as well.

 

[EggyErin]

I put mine in a separate section in the coop when they were 5 weeks and they're much happier. I don't let them fraternize with the big girls yet partly because I don't want the teenagers getting into the laying mash. Don't know how to resolve that problem.

 

[Ridgerunner]

At five weeks old, they should be fully feathered out and ready for the move. Besides, at 5 degrees drop a week from 90, 70 is certainly in their range. So, yes, you are being overprotective. They will love the extra room out there.

EggyErin,
When I have juveniles with a laying flock, I feed all of them Grower with oyster shell on the side. The juveniles may try the oyster shell, but they very soon learn to leave it alone.

 

[areyoumymother]

Thank You All for the great feedback !

My adult 2 legged children would agree, I do have a tendency to be over protective.

It just seems that the big house is sooo big and it will be just the 2 of them for another 3 weeks or so til the others are ready to graduate.

 

[sammin71]

I put my chicks outside at 3.5 weeks they had a heat light and they loved it. I was just as glad to get them outta the house.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Moved out my 5 week old chicks this week. Highs in the 50-60 range and lows 30-40. Northern Michigan. They love it!!!!!
With your warmth in Texas, there is no reason to be adding heat and no sense being crammed up anymore.

 

[GhostRider65]

Hey Everyone,

I'm over here in NE Wisconsin, it's been pretty cool here but, it's finally starting to warm up today its 50 and stays between 30 and 40 at night.
I want to put my babies out in my extra horse stall in the barn, its a bit drafty in there because my big stall stays open all the time so they can come in if there cold or its too hot. it faces south, and sometimes its windy here. My babies will be 5 weeks old Wednesday, they have most all their feathers and getting kinda crazy in there brooder.
I have 1 hurt baby that had to be separated don't know if they flew into her or jumped on her, but she can barely walk I'll keep her in for awhile yet. But wondering if I set there lamps up out there if I could put them out this next week?? what do you think Fred? your in a cold snowy land as well? Kim

 

[Sassafras]

I put mine out a few days shy of 4 weeks with a heat lamp. They were fine but it is a draft free 6' x 10' coop. It was high 30's one night. I didn't have my heat up as high as they say to start with because I had an Ecoglo though. Today was their first day out in the pen as it is in the 70's. They love it!
I'd be concerned about drafts though.

 

[smcjoj3]

Quote:
yes yes & yes. I can tell my girls are gettin' annoyed with their increasing tight quarters indoors and am thinking about doing the same thing. Good to hear I am not the only one who is ready to kick my lovelies out!

MY poor 6 yr old had to give up her bedroom for our chicks this spring, & she moved in with her little brother. I think she is ready for them to make the move also...as much fun as little brothers are.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you can take sheets of cardboard, big old sheets from large boxes, or plywood scraps, you can build wind screen inside the stalls in the barn. Or just build a big old box in the barn out of what ever you have. I brood in the barn from day one. String a power cord for flood light, lower it to 24" for some added warmth on cold nights. Done. They'd much rather be out in a large grow out pen then stuffed in a small brooder, at this point. By now, their feathers really protect them. They are not nearly as fragile at this point. Not at all.