A few questions

[MikasGirl]

Hi! We have had chickens before, but we weren't sure on these chicks q's:

At what age can they run around outside under supervision?
When are they old enough to
a) be wormed
b) not have a heat lamp

Thank you!

 

[digginchicks]

You should slowly wing them off the heat lamp trying to decrease the temperature 5 degrees a week or so. I'm not sure how to answer your question about the outside question since I just let them out and watch them after they are a week old or so which im sure I shouldn't do

 

[MikasGirl]

Okay. So they are almost two weeks old, so a couple more weeks with the heat lamp.

 

[Katy_didnot]

Yeah, then you'll have them down to about room temp anyway.

 

[firedove]

you can bring them outside on any warm day, preferably ones that aren't windy, as long as you stay very close to them. At that age they are easy prey for roaming cats, crows, and any other prey animal who wants a snack. Watch the chicks closely and at the first sign of chill bring them back in under the heat lamp.

 

[MikasGirl]

We just got three more chicks today that are what look like 5 days. It seems that they get along with the other ones that are almost two weeks. When do chickens hit their "ugly" stage?

 

[firedove]

at about 3 weeks old. It seems like 3 - 5 weeks old they really have that teen awkward look.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Mine are out running with the big girls all day by 5 weeks. I leave a light on that they can get to during cold days and on at night for 1 more week then they are in the big coop. Occasionally I have one that hasn't feathered out at he same rate as the others and he will have to stay behind with the new batch of babies for another week or so. I have never had a problem with that schedule, never had a sick chick or lost one.