Are we ready to go outside?

[V-NH]

Hello everyone,

I have 17 chicks that are too big for their brooder and need to move to their huge coop outside. I'm brooding chicks and ducklings in 4x2x2 foot stock tanks (separately, of course). I believe my chicks are between 4 and 5 weeks old, but I'm not 100% sure because I picked them up from the feed store when they were already a little bit bigger than a newborn chick typically is. My chicks rejected the heat lamp early and have not had it on in about a week. Thus, they've been living in a 60 degree stock tank without a lamp since they were 3-4 weeks old. I'm trying to decide if I want to give them a trial run outside, or wait another week or two. If they stay inside, they are going to have to stay in the stock tank. What would you do?

 

[V-NH]

PS... Do you think these are white leghorns?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Move 'em out. I move mine out when they are that size in the dead of winter. LOL

They are far, far too crowded in that tank. They'll be just fine. Deep straw to burrow into and they'll be just fine. Yes, With those big swooped up tails, they are some kind of a Leghorn type layer or Leghorn cross, more likely.

 

[V-NH]

That's what I thought. I'm going to try to move them out to the coop tomorrow. The coop itself turned out to be 60 square feet and I built them a 200 sq foot run, so that will provide them with a lot more space. The only potential problem is that I have a pair (1 male, 1 female) of frizzle chickens already in the coop and although they are only 6-7 weeks old, they are twice the size of these chicks. I'm concerned about potential problems arising if I mix them too soon.

 

[missnu01]

Whether you mix them now or later the same things will happen...
But it usually turns out that the smaller chickens just avoid the larger until everything gets worked out. I'm getting ready to put 17 chicks in with 9 members of my established flock. They have all mingled together outside with very little issue...So I will install the chicks in a partition of wire, so everyone can see everyone else. Then after a week of that I will remove the wire and everyone will be together...and it will go however it goes...but it should be just fine. Haven't had an issue thus far.

 

[V-NH]

Fair enough. I'll give it a shot tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[lghrnlvr]

They look just like my white leghorn girls. Mine are just over 2 weeks and they have spent the last 3 nights outside with temps in the 50's and they are fine.

 

[V-NH]

I just finished up the coop this morning and put them outside around 10:00am. They're doing well so far. I put the ducklings in with them and they don't seem to get along very well, but I know several people who have successfully mixed them so I am keeping an eye on them and hoping for the best.

 

[farmboy22]

Don't worry about them they are hardier than we give credit.

 

[V-NH]

I just put them into the coop for the night. What an amusing sight that must have been! I had to chase around and round up 19 chickens and 3 ducks. Every time I put two in, two more would hop out. Hopefully they will learn that the coop is home very soon so that I don't have to repeat that experience.