Am I doing this right?

[tseagraves]

I've always wanted to raise chicks and have finally found it time. I currently have 8 chicks 4 astralap(sp) and 4 amberlink. The amberlink are slightly bigger than the others and they seem to have started going through the pecking order. They are aprox. 4 weeks old. They like to roost on a wooden brooder rooster that I bought online and they love it. Recently they have been flying off the rooster at each other. I just upgraded their space because t hey out grew the other but have not got big enough for outside. Is this normal 4 week old chick behavior? Thanks in advance!

 

[azygous]

Yes. In fact, my two-week old chicks are already doing what yours are doing. Little wings are perfectly usable by age two weeks, and by four weeks, if you let yours outside to frolic during the day, they would probably try out their wings on low level flight if you provide the space.

By age three weeks, chicks no longer require supplementary heat during the day. They should be outdoors in a run by this time, not cooped up in a brooder.

By five weeks, with proper acclimatizing, they can move into a coop.

 

[tseagraves]

Thank you! They aren't in a brooder anymore but in a 4x4 pen that I take outside on nice days. It's completely closed in also reinforced and I don't leave them all day just a few hours here and there, I want them to get used to being outside instead of their nice climate controlled shed. I appreciate all the info, seems like everywhere on the internet has different suggestions but I like hearing it from people with experience.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup, they're having fun and playing around. As I raise my chicks outdoors they show this behavior even earlier, because they have a lot more room to bounce around in.

The outdoor pen is a great idea and you can keep them out in there longer and longer to acclimate them to temperatures for moving out.