Are we ready to add to outdoor coop with others?

[chickywag]

Hello. Our chicks are now a bit over 3 months old...we have 7 of them. They have been living in our living room stinking up the place & they are getting big & a little crowded.

We have been introducing them to our older gals in our nice outdoor coop. It's been going unbelievably smooth all factors considered. Maybe safety in numbers since they out-number the the three originals. The newbies keep their distance but no fighting etc. They have been going out everyday with the others and sleeping inside our living room every night. I recently stopped using heat lamp since house is at a comfortable temp.

My question is... When are they old enough to move outdoors at night ? What tempature @ night is safe at night at their 3 month age? We live in California but it's been cold at night down to about 38-40 degrees.

Any feedback much appreciated! I attached pictures of coop and them all hanging out

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Hello. Our chicks are now a bit over 3 months old...we have 7 of them. They have been living in our living room stinking up the place & they are getting big & a little crowded.

We have been introducing them to our older gals in our nice outdoor coop. It's been going unbelievably smooth all factors considered. Maybe safety in numbers since they out-number the the three originals. The newbies keep their distance but no fighting etc. They have been going out everyday with the others and sleeping inside our living room every night. I recently stopped using heat lamp since house is at a comfortable temp.

My question is... When are they old enough to move outdoors at night ? What tempature @ night is safe at night at their 3 month age? We live in California but it's been cold at night down to about 38-40 degrees.

Any feedback much appreciated! I attached pictures of coop and them all hanging outView attachment 1676625 View attachment 1676626 View attachment 1676627

Once fully feathered they can move out.

 

[chickywag]

Thanks for replying. I kept googling and getting a mixed bag of opinions. This isgreat news!! We love them but hey stink...baaaddd.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're definitely good to stay out already, especially since you've already acclimated them to spending time outside.

 

[CoopintheWoods]

They should be fine. My most recent group moved outside at about 2 or 3 months. You have beautiful birds!

 

[aart]

Next time.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

 

[feathermaid]

Wow! I brooded my first chicks in the house and couldn't bear the dust longer than 4 weeks. You have amazing constitution. The usual age to go outside is probably 6-8 weeks, but I used aart's method the 2nd time around and they were completely acclimated and roosting with my older girls by 4-5 weeks.


Your birds will be fine in the cold all night long (I'm sure you probably already have them out there by now). Some folks even brood their chicks outdoors is sub-freezing temps (with access to a heat source). Once they get feathers they have amazing insulation!

*edited to clarify*