7 week old ready for outside ?

[rosemarythyme]

As long as you've weaned them off heat they're good to go.

I was under the impression that you are supposed to wait until they are fully feathered to put them outside, approximately 12 weeks.

Oh my goodness no! Most of us would go nuts at having to keep them inside for so long. My last chicks went directly outside at 2 days old (with heat and draft protected brooder), never came into the house even for a minute.

 

[zhutson789]

So

Fully feathered. Rocks and leghorns.

they should be just fine!

 

[RoosterML]

As long as you've weaned them off heat they're good to go.



Oh my goodness no! Most of us would go nuts at having to keep them inside for so long. My last chicks went directly outside at 2 days old (with heat and draft protected brooder), never came into the house even for a minute.

I am calling and reporting you to the chick welfare department!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I am calling and reporting you to the chick welfare department!!!

Those chicks are now 2 years old and perky as can be.

 

[Vadybug]

As long as you've weaned them off heat they're good to go.



Oh my goodness no! Most of us would go nuts at having to keep them inside for so long. My last chicks went directly outside at 2 days old (with heat and draft protected brooder), never came into the house even for a minute.

Won’t the big girls beat up on them? That’s why I thought you are supposed to wait to integrate them with the existing flock.

 

[Vadybug]

Those chicks are now 2 years old and perky as can be.

Mine are outside in the garage not in the house. I just haven’t integrated them into the existing flock yet.

 

[Vadybug]

I’m specifically referring to when to integrate them into the existing flock, Theory states that if they are fully feathered and big enough to take care of themselves then that is when to integrate them at approximately 12 weeks. That is what I am referring to.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Won’t the big girls beat up on them? That’s why I thought you are supposed to wait to integrate them with the existing flock.

OP did not mention having existing birds, so I went by assumption that integration wasn't the concern. As far as your concern...

I’m specifically referring to when to integrate them into the existing flock, Theory states that if they are fully feathered and big enough to take care of themselves then that is when to integrate them at approximately 12 weeks. That is what I am referring to.

I do early integration. Different ways to do it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/ (my set up is also linked in the article). For me, chicks and adults are mingling by 3 weeks (going to push for 2 weeks with my next batch) and chicks were roosting with adults before 6 weeks.



It does take some preplanning and setting up, but short of having a hen raise and integrate chicks for you, I feel this is the easiest way to integrate and the chicks will learn to chicken from the hens.

 

[aart]

OP did not mention having existing birds, so I went by assumption that integration wasn't the concern.

I was confused there too.