Are my chicks really ready to move outside?

[Carolinacluck]

Hello! I'm a first time chicken owner and probably over thinking and over reading. I just want to be sure my chicks really are ready to go outside. They are 5.5 weeks old. They are feathered, but I'm still just worried. I have a coop with a run attached, they have water and feed, it is only getting down to the high 50s at night, and right now the 4 of them are huddled together sleeping in the run. They're not shaking, and they know how to access the protected coop area, but for some reason and choosing to huddle in a grassy patch in the run. Should i let them be, or bring them back inside at night? Thanks for your advice, this over protective chicken newbie sure appreciates it

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes they'll be fine, especially if you had already weaned them off heat while they were in the brooder. Best to put them inside at night where they'll be safe from both predators and possible downturns in weather and drafts. My chicks were raised outdoors since 2 days old and off heat at 4 weeks.

 

[Carolinacluck]

Yes they'll be fine, especially if you had already weaned them off heat while they were in the brooder. Best to put them inside at night where they'll be safe from both predators and possible downturns in weather and drafts. My chicks were raised outdoors since 2 days old and off heat at 4 weeks.

Thank you very much! I should be sleeping, but no... I'm shining a flashlight on them every 10 minutes lol. If I close them in to the coop, should I move their water and feed inside with them overnight? And can the handle occasional wind gusts? I seem to be much more bothered than they are.

 

[yickenscarf23]

I don't move mines feed/water in. They're definitely big enough, though. My first batch I was a worrisome mess, too

 

[Fishkeeper]

They'll be asleep overnight, so aren't likely to need food and water. Water in the coop may not be a terrible idea. I'd definitely shut them in the coop, it'll be warmer in there and it'll help them figure it out.
Wind gusts are fine.
They're feathered out well, they'll be fine outside.

What's your predator proofing like, though? I'd be a little worried something might burrow under there, if there's nothing to stop that.

 

[Willowspirit]

Thank you very much! I should be sleeping, but no... I'm shining a flashlight on them every 10 minutes lol. If I close them in to the coop, should I move their water and feed inside with them overnight? And can the handle occasional wind gusts? I seem to be much more bothered than they are.

i did this the first night my chicks moved to a bedroom from a bathroom. Even though they had heat I was convinced they would freeze.

 

[b_racin_gurl]

Glad I'm not the only one! I just moved mine to a bigger brooder from my bathroom to the garage tonight and have checked on them 4 times already.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't like having food and water inside (and they won't use it at night anyhow), but if you don't tend to get up early you'll sleep better if you have water access inside the coop for now, just so they can drink as soon as light is available. They'll be fine without the food though.

And yes you're more bothered than they are. They're probably only confused as to why a flashlight keeps shining on them.

 

[Carolinacluck]

They'll be asleep overnight, so aren't likely to need food and water. Water in the coop may not be a terrible idea. I'd definitely shut them in the coop, it'll be warmer in there and it'll help them figure it out.
Wind gusts are fine.
They're feathered out well, they'll be fine outside.

What's your predator proofing like, though? I'd be a little worried something might burrow under there, if there's nothing to stop that.

We have wiring buried under the run now, and the coop is raised so hopefully we've covered our bases

 

[LarryOdom]

Hello all
My names Larry and I live in South East Michigan. I have 6 ten day old chicks that already have wing feathers. Do I need to wait until they are fully feathered out before moving them to the outside coop?