At what age/temprature can chicks live outside (and a couple other questions)

[floridahen37]

I bought 5 female redstar chicks yesterday and they are a week old. I have them set up in our den but I would like to know if i can set them up outside. I have a coop separate from the others,nothing can get to them. I would prefer they not be in the house, im really wanting to set them up in the extra coop. Any suggestions?

 

[debid]

As mentioned in my quote, we don't house chickens in the human house. Ever. A safe enclosure, a heat source with room to escape the heat, and food/water and they'll be fine. If you're in FL as your username suggests, they won't need much heat or for long. Careful not to roast them.

 

[amenfarm]

Sure, Chicks start out at 95* and go down 5* per week, so yours are at 90*. If your temps are ok outside during the day, it's the dips and inconsistent temp at night and early A.M. that need to be controlled. If your using heat lamps be sure to chain and use a C-clamp, not the clamp that comes with it. Check carefully around the lamp for fire hazards and keep it dusted. Also, clean, then disinfect feeders and waters daily - just like for human babies. I soak freshly cleaned containers in vinegar solution for 30 minutes. I would set up a container inside the outside coop to control the nightly temps. Until they are fully feathered at 8 weeks. You could also use a feather duster as a hen substitute, search on the website for pictures.

 

[roosterstrut]

Yeah I live in Wisconsin in Florida you won't need heat for long I'd put them outside when they have all there feathers if they huddle there cold if they are panting there hot if there not doing any of those to things that's the "OK zone"

 

[Belle7]

well if it is cold you need to heat the chicken coop and water anyways also remember 14 hours of light a day so you will need a light in your coop to.

 

[Belle7]

also about 3-4 months

 

[sourland]

As mentioned in my quote, we don't house chickens in the human house. Ever. A safe enclosure, a heat source with room to escape the heat, and food/water and they'll be fine. If you're in FL as your username suggests, they won't need much heat or for long. Careful not to roast them.

Move them out yesterday. Chicken dust and dander in the house can cause serious long term allergic problems. A heat source that they can access as needed, and they will be fine. You will only need to provide lighting if you want to boost egg production in the winter.

 

[crazychickhen]

Hi there ! We have 8 chicks (ones about 3 weeks old while the others are between 1-2 weeks). We live in south Florida. Outside temp is 90-95degrees right now. Are we okay to add them to our coop with our 3 9 month old hens ? Or do we need to wait. It sounds like the only real reason to keep them indoors/separated is for heat which they don't seem to need down here. Thanks in advance !

 

[amenfarm]

Your young chicks will need to be 4 months old before being with the other pullets without restrictions. You can put them behind a partitions where they can see without touching, at 3 months. That should make flock easier to integrate at 4 months.or if at 3 months you could arrange your coop to have a separate coop inside your coop with several entrances where if the chicks are pursued they are the only ones that can enter for safety.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi there ! We have 8 chicks (ones about 3 weeks old while the others are between 1-2 weeks). We live in south Florida. Outside temp is 90-95degrees right now. Are we okay to add them to our coop with our 3 9 month old hens ? Or do we need to wait. It sounds like the only real reason to keep them indoors/separated is for heat which they don't seem to need down here. Thanks in advance !

Many of us are finding that it's actually easier to integrate youngsters when they are younger, instead of waiting until they are close to full sized. When they are chicks, the older birds don't consider them to be a threat to the pecking order. So, if the flock has plenty of room in the run and in the coop, integration at 3 - 6 weeks goes well. Add to this, the ease of brooding with a heating pad... and it gets progressively easier to raise chicks. Check out this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/yes-you-certainly-can-brood-chicks-outdoors

Azygous is the queen of early integration. She came up with a "panic room" in the coop. It's a wire enclosure where the chicks are started, then when they are between 3 - 6 weeks old (I'm not sure just how soon she does it.) she opens little doors that allow the chicks out into the coop with the adults. The chicks can come and go through their little doors, but the adults can't follow them into their "panic room". She continues to feed chicks, and provide their heating pad in the "panic room".