A few questions about moving my chicks outside...

[Sillz]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time raising chicks and they are now 6 weeks old (give or take). We bought the 3 of them on Saturday March 17th but they were a couple of days old already - a Buff Orpington (Buffy), an Ameraucana (Phoebe), and an Australorp (Miss Heidi - my 6 year old named it after his kindergarten teacher).

I have a few questions:

1. They are growing at different rates - is this just breed related? Our Ameraucana is by far the biggest, followed by the Australorp and the Buff Orpington is a lot smaller than the other two.

2. Can I move them outside yet? I'm concerned about the smallest one being ready but she is technically the same age as the other two. Can I move the bigger two outside first and give the BO more time in the brooder to develop? We have been wondering if maybe she isn't getting as much access to the food and maybe that is why she isn't growing as fast? If we do move her later will the first two still accept her?

3. If we do move them outside, should we turn off the heat lamp for a few days first to let them get more acclimatized to the temperature? They currently reside in the garage and it is rainy this week but the temperature is supposed to be mid 40's at night and mid 60's during the day.

4. I have read that you should confine them to the coop for a week before letting them out in the run, but does this still apply to the Eglu Go? The roost section is quite small so I worry about them being stuck in there for a week without more space.

Here's a photo for reference. We had some great weather here in Seattle this past weekend so we let them out into their Eglu for the first time and they loved it. The little BO was quite chirpy though.



Thanks for all your help and advice!

Sarah.

 

[Fierlin1182]

6 weeks old is about the right time to start moving your chicks outside. It's pretty normal for chicks to grow at different rates, most of the time the slower ones catch up. You run the risk of getting pecking if you reintroduce the Buff later, so I'd say keep them together (she'll probably look very different by the time she's ready if you wait!)

Heat lamps outside might not even be necessary depending on how your chickens cope, ours were outside at 5-6 weeks without any heat. Keep an eye on them for a while, and if they seem cold, turn on the light. What some people do is they just turn on the light at nights, that way during the day they can 'experience the outdoors'.

And yeah, I'd say let your chickens out into the run, or at least give them the option. Leave the door open, and they will go out if they want to.

 

[twisted troy]

I'm in central Texas but our weather since i've gotten my chicks has been down to 45-50 at nite and sometimes pretty breezy. During the day from 60-80. They are in a pretty open cage 2 1/2 side have plywood the rest is chicken wire with a roof. I have a heat light hanging in 1 corner for them and they have been doing quite well. They are about 3/4 feathered now and i'm thinking about unplugging the light. If their cold they'll huddle together and if their warm they spread out. So it's pretty easy to tell if they need it.

I've only had 1 loss, a chick escaped from my son at feeding time........a cat was quicker to catch it.

 

[mkcolls]

from Ohio!

I would wait until temperature were mid 50's or higher at night before putting them out without any heat. When possible give them outside time in their Eglu Go during the day.
Loud, constant chirping can mean a chick is cold. Or fearful, which in a new experience would be expected.
I would keep them together, for the reason Fierlin stated above.
If you believe the BO may be low chick on the food chain, provide a second small dish of food, place after the other two start eating. The pecking order can be taken very seriously by chickens.

Since the Eglu Go is small I agree locking them inside for a week doesn't make sense. When you decide to move them out permanently do make sure they are safe inside the coop at night.

They keep us busy, always learning. I call it Poultry University. (PU)

Welcome to class.

 

[Sillz]

Thanks so much for all the info, I really appreciate it! One more question: When they are outside full time and locked in the coop at night, are they ok in there without food and water or should I put some in there too? The Eglu's feeder/water is out in the run, so they won't have access to it once locked in for the night.

 

[RonC]

At six weeks they can go outside without a heat lamp. They are fully feathered by now and will huddle together to keep warm if necessary. Yes it's a good idea to remove the heat lamp to acclimate them to being outside. They won't need food or water in the coop.

 

[Chick CJ]

Do you notice that they stay away from the lamp most of the time? You should turn off the lamp for a few days before moving them to let them acclimate easily to normal temps. If they are cold they will chirp, loudly, a lot! Most likely they won't be though. From your picture they seem like they are feathered enough to be outside. I would keep them all together and not seperate them. It will be harder on the BO to reintroduce her later. By the way, it is difficult to tell from your picture, but the BO does look quite a lot smaller than the others but it could just be cause she is laying down and the others are standing. Could she be a bantam? I do not keep food or water in my coop, only the run. Once they know where the food is they won't forget!
CJ