Are they old enough?

[citychickies123]

We are in Oklahoma and our chicks are 6 1/2 weeks old. Currently their brooder is in our bedroom because that is the only room we can easily lock the cats and dogs out of. I am finding though that the dust they stir is starting to get to my asthma so the sooner they go outside the better. We already take them outside on days that get above 50 and yesterday finished making their coop and small run preditor proof so their area is ready. We have 10 total girls. Currently their coop and small run has a greenhouse cover (using the frame for their small run) and once the chicken wire comes in for covering the top, will replace this cover with a heavy duty tarp for wind block. Eventualy the girls will have our garden area for their full area once we get the chicken wire up along with fences and bird netting for the top to protect from preditors.

We used one of the brood heaters and a seed map to give them their heat in the brooder when tiny and figured those can go into the coop to help take the chill off on the colder nights (if this will work. Planning on a camera and a thermometer in the coop for seeing how the temps do get at night). Are we good? Or does anyone have any suggestions to help with keeping the dust down? I know in another 5 - 7 weeks we won't have to worry about it getting that cold but not sure if my asthma will be able to take it that long.

TIA for all the help and suggestions.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

i would have kicked them out already. They have feathers they are good to go. As long as their coop is draft-free I wouldn’t worry about it. Taking them in and out constantly would be more traumatic than putting them out full time when it’s cold.

 

[citychickies123]

i would have kicked them out already. They have feathers they are good to go. As long as their coop is draft-free I wouldn’t worry about it. Taking them in and out constantly would be more traumatic than putting them out full time when it’s cold.

These girls have gotten held at least once every day since they have been here so the in and out isn't traumatizing them thankfully. Unless there has been a few days in between due to rain etc. they actually load and unload into the pet carrier we use pretty easily on their own. We are wanting them to be pets along with being our egg supply and natural pest control for our garden.

But at least I can look at them being outside permenatenly soon!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

These girls have gotten held at least once every day since they have been here so the in and out isn't traumatizing them thankfully.

Oh I don’t mean emotionally traumatizing I mean physically because of temperature fluctuations lol. It is harder for them to acclimate going from a 74° house to cold coop or run constantly than it is for them to just stay outside.

 

[kattabelly]

They'll be fine.

I have two six week old chicks here right now and they spent most of today play fighting in the snow.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

How cold are your coldest temperatures expected to be in the next week or so? Oklahoma is not exactly the sun belt but I think your temperatures are going to be fairly moderate the next week or so.

I've had chicks younger than yours go through nights below freezing. Their down and feathers trap tiny pockets of air that insulate them as long as a breeze strong enough does not hit them and release those air pockets. If yours have a way to get out of a breeze they will manage fine. To me wind is much more important than temperatures unless you are getting well below zero Fahrenheit. If they can, they will get out of the wind.

 

[citychickies123]

Oh I don’t mean emotionally traumatizing I mean physically because of temperature fluctuations lol. It is harder for them to acclimate going from a 74° house to cold coop or run constantly than it is for them to just stay outside.

I'd feel like I was in a sauna if my house was that warm lol. My bedroom probably stays around 60 F because I sleep hot so keep a window AC unit running all the time with the rest of the house about 70.

But with the responses and browsing other threads, these girls are going out permanently as soon as we finish the top preditor proofing. Let hubs know the wood he needs to pick up on his way home after work when he was on his lunch break since we need to put the door for us up before they are in the coop full time. Can't have the babes going in the coop without a way for us to join them for snuggle sessions.

 

[citychickies123]

They'll be fine.

I have two six week old chicks here right now and they spent most of today play fighting in the snow.

Oh fun! We are raising these girls to be pets also, so I have probably just been over worrying about them going out lol.

 

[citychickies123]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

How cold are your coldest temperatures expected to be in the next week or so? Oklahoma is not exactly the sun belt but I think your temperatures are going to be fairly moderate the next week or so.

I've had chicks younger than yours go through nights below freezing. Their down and feathers trap tiny pockets of air that insulate them as long as a breeze strong enough does not hit them and release those air pockets. If yours have a way to get out of a breeze they will manage fine. To me wind is much more important than temperatures unless you are getting well below zero Fahrenheit. If they can, they will get out of the wind.

We are getting in some chicken wire to go over the top of their run area and planning on covering the top, west and north sides with a heavy duty tarp for wind block. The temps seem to be doing decent with the coldest showing for our area 33 this weekend. It won't be until mid week next week for us to have everything totally preditor proofed so will be keeping an eye on how the temps are running. We have a hawks nesting not 50 yards from us so we gotta make sure the girls are safe first.

 

[kattabelly]

Oh fun! We are raising these girls to be pets also, so I have probably just been over worrying about them going out lol.

That's understandable but really, they're hardier than people sometimes think and quite adaptable. They just can't get used to colder weather if they're never exposed to it.

What kinds of predators do you have in your area? Chicken wire is good for keeping chickens in, but won't do much to keep some predators out.