8 Week old chickens

[peckyscotch]

Hi everyone, I have 4 8 week old chicks (I'm thinking 2 female light sussex's, 1 make light Sussex, and 1 male Verwerk) and I'm not sure when to put them outside. They are, right now, in a small hutch with a run in my shed which is quite big tbh. All help would be happily taken

I am new to raising baby chickens as the other chickens I have I got when they were about 18 weeks old.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

The earliest they can live outside is 8 weeks so now. But I always tell people to wait more towards their 10th or even 12th week. They can be outside in a protected cage every day leading up to that point.

 

[LanceTN]

My chicks got to spend time in the yard pecking around the grass starting at one week.

They went off the heat but stayed in the brooder at two, smaller confines kept the temp up just through their body heat.

They went out in the coop with no heat at three weeks.

Then after a few days locked in the coop I started letting them out during the day and putting them back in at dusk and by four weeks they were free range chickens who went in the coop on their own at night.

Now at six weeks they are masters of their domain.

 

[peckyscotch]

My chicks got to spend time in the yard pecking around the grass starting at one week.

They went off the heat but stayed in the brooder at two, smaller confines kept the temp up just through their body heat.

They went out in the coop with no heat at three weeks.

Then after a few days locked in the coop I started letting them out during the day and putting them back in at dusk and by four weeks they were free range chickens who went in the coop on their own at night.

Now at six weeks they are masters of their domain.

OK, thanks was that in winter though?

The earliest they can live outside is 8 weeks so now. But I always tell people to wait more towards their 10th or even 12th week. They can be outside in a protected cage every day leading up to that point.

I think I'll let them out at about 10 weeks just to be safe

 

[LanceTN]

It was just recently.

These same birds are about to be eight weeks.

So at the very moment they're younger then yours.

The first week they were in the coop it was in the 30s at night and a few have dipped down to the 20s.

 

[peckyscotch]

Ah

I'm in Scotland and right now it is usually about 3 or 4 degrees celcius at night!

 

[LanceTN]

4 degrees Celsius is 39F. So bit warmer then my birds have been experiencing.

 

[wwarren8200]

I've learned that 8 weeks no more no less is best. Do you have to introduce them to adult birds?

 

[peckyscotch]

I've learned that 8 weeks no more no less is best. Do you have to introduce them to adult birds?

I could introduce them to my 1 and a half year old hens but no heard that that causes fighting so no I don't think I will

 

[wwarren8200]

Ok. Just asking if you HAD to introduce them.....once they are fully grown they can be introduced