Advice on moving brooder outside

[Chicky Babe]

Six of my chicks are around 4 weeks old, the other 10 are 3 weeks. They are currently in my den in a brooder (no heat lamp). We are expecting company for the week and their coop isn't finished, due to the weather and several doctors appointments. They are giving rain thru Monday. The temps aren't supposed to dip below 48 this upcoming week. My question is, if I move the brooder on the screen porch, will they be alright? I helped my gran with chickens about 20 years ago but you might as well say I am new at raising chicks. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[chickenpooplady]

As long as they have their head feathers they will be fine outside.

 

[Chicky Babe]

Well they aren't going to be outside, outside lol. I am going to keep them in the brooder and cover it at night with a heavy blanket. The brooder is lined with hay. The older gals do have head feathers some of the younger ones do not. The brooder will be protected from the wind touching the house on my screened porch. With all those precautions should even the younger ones be okay as well?

 

[Aeropennchick]

I put mine outside before the head feathers were in - at about four and a half weeks - and they have been fine.
Go for it!

 

[ButchGood]

They will be just fine, in fact they could, and in my opinion, should go to the coop right now. They will be happier with real dirt and grass under their feet.
I moved mine to the coop with a lamp at 2 weeks old. At 3 weeks no more heat lamp and access to the run. At 4 weeks full run of the coop and run. At five weeks they were coming out freely in the morning and putting themselves away at night. They are 6 weeks old yesterday.

 

[cntryhrly]

I had the same question, my chicks are a little over 4 wks old, they started flying so when I go in the room in the morning they are all over, and wanted to know if it was safe to put them outside...also when should I introduce them to larger (batam roosters) that I have.

 

[Chicky Babe]

I would love to be able to place them in their new lil chicky coop, however as I stated previously it isn't finished yet. Whenever it is they will go! Thanks for all the helpful advice.

 

[Chicky Babe]

Just letting everyone know that everything went really smooth! While the DH and I moved their brooder, the boys let the chicks play in the yard. After all was set up I brought out some treats and sat in the yard with them. You would have thought I had on clothing made of live chicks! Apparently they all think I am the mother hen, I was literally covered by the sweet lil ones! Thanks everyone that helped out.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Just letting everyone know that everything went really smooth! While the DH and I moved their brooder, the boys let the chicks play in the yard. After all was set up I brought out some treats and sat in the yard with them. You would have thought I had on clothing made of live chicks! Apparently they all think I am the mother hen, I was literally covered by the sweet lil ones! Thanks everyone that helped out.

Yay! So happy for you! I love when they all pile on -



"Save us from the monsters, mom!!"

 

[Chicky Babe]

Thanks, and that pic is just about identical to how it went just replace dogs with a boxer and a boston terrier!