5week old chicks outside

[Urbanforager]

Is it okay for my 5 week old chicks to be outside full time, still getting into 40s at night

 

[grayjay11o]

If they're fully feathered and have a safe place to stay at night they should be fine, just keep in mind that this might cause weaker ones to die and that predator attacks are possible.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Yes, as long as you've weaned them off of their heat source. Mine have been outside since 2 weeks, no heat since 4 weeks and it's got down to the high 20s before.

 

[Urbanforager]

If they're fully feathered and have a safe place to stay at night they should be fine, just keep in mind that this might cause weaker ones to die and that predator attacks are possible.

Yeah there featherd and got an open bottom coop with chicken wire burried under, have to laying hens that got attacked by an opossum and had two bantam that the Hawks got to.. I've only had free range hens this is my first time with a run

 

[Mamatomany123]

Yeah there featherd and got an open bottom coop with chicken wire burried under, have to laying hens that got attacked by an opossum and had two bantam that the Hawks got to.. I've only had free range hens this is my first time with a run

Hmmm, I'm unsure how open bottom coops would work. I know with my chicks I had to physically put them in the coop for a while. Yesterday was the first night I went out there and they were all in the coop on their roost. I'm not sure how you would keep chicks in the coop if it's open bottom.

 

[grayjay11o]

What do you mean by open-bottom? Is the coop up in stilts and the chickens go underneath and fly up onto the perches?

 

[Urbanforager]

Yes, as long as you've weaned them off of their heat source. Mine have been outside since 2 weeks, no heat since 4 weeks and it's got down to the high 20s before.

What do you mean by open-bottom? Is the coop up in stilts and the chickens go underneath and fly up onto the perches?

No it's just built on the ground with the wire burried under the soil, 3 walls and a big door for the one end going to the run.. only a temporary thing until covid dies down and my hours go back to normal

 

[Mamatomany123]

No it's just built on the ground with the wire burried under the soil, 3 walls and a big door for the one end going to the run

Oh ok. Yes. They should be ok. Tou will probably have to wrangle them up and put them in the coop for a bit in the beginning until they get it do you have an enclosed run for them?I wouldn't them free range that young yet.

 

[hayley3]

Where are you located? I worry about snakes so mine don't go out until they are a good size that a snake won't bother them.

 

[Urbanforager]

Oh ok. Yes. They should be ok. Tou will probably have to wrangle them up and put them in the coop for a bit in the beginning until they get it do you have an enclosed run for them?I wouldn't them free range that young yet.

Yes I have a run, too much chicken poo to have em free range this time, I have two year old hens that free range though