7 week chickens transition to outside in the fall

[High desert chickens]

Hi all
I got chicks this fall (a first for me) and have been raising them in a brooder in the house. Since the weather has been nice for about the past week I've been packing them up and putting them outside in the run during the day and then bringing them back in at night. I was planning on transitioning them to the coop outside at night this week, but after the weekend we are about to hit our first freeze and maybe snow. Do I delay the outside transition? Keep them inside the coop during the cold time (there isn't any heat out there, but it's dry and not drafty)? They seem to be mostly feathered. Oh and there are only 4 of them. This fall time chick raising is crazy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Willow2253]

By 7 weeks they should be fully feathered and able to maintain their body heat. Are they off of supplemental heat inside? They should be fine as long as they have shelter from the elements available.

 

[bobbi-j]

For future reference, you can start them out in the coop with a Mama Heating Pad brooder, or some other source of heat. I have started chicks out in the coop in April when the lows can get down to the mid-20s and have had no problems. Chicks brooded with the MHP method seem healthier, feather out faster and are off heat sooner.

 

[jackschickies]

We just transitioned our 8 week old chicks outside this past weekend. So far they’re doing well when our temps at night drop into the 40s. We’re also expecting a freeze and snow this weekend but I think they’ll be okay

 

[Cindy in PA]

I brooded in the coop for the first time this year. Got chicks 8/29 & we had temps in the the 30s before they were 3 weeks old & they did fine. I shut off their brooder plate before 6 weeks & now at 8 weeks they have been roosting with the big girls since last Friday.

 

[High desert chickens]

They spent the last 3 nights outside no problem. I'm still a little worried because it's going to drop temperature like crazy and snow. Mountain life. So from low 40 degree nights to 17. Ack.