Baby chicks

[Travis2013]

My wife brought home some chicks didn't really want them but her and my son are in love with them. I have grown hens already. I am wondering when can I put these chicks with the regular birds. They are a little over a weeek old. I have them in a 5'x 2' cardboard box outside in the screened in patio. Do I need to put a light on them. It's 90 degrees in the day and roughly 75 at night.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The optimal age to integrate is 16 weeks of age. You can do it a little before then but there is always the risk of injury or death, depending upon the personalities of the older ones.

You want them to be about the same size as the older hens before integration, ideally.

Temp. requirements for chicks:
90-95 degrees the first week of life and decrease by 5 degrees per week until fully feathered even on the head, usually at 6 weeks of age.

They need space to get away from the light, to avoid overheating as well (a cooler spot in the brooder).

Unfortunately you are looking at a long time in the brooder for the chicks, and a lot of time separated from the older hens.

I would recommend you get/build a little tiny coop/run, as it always comes in handy anyways, as a growout coop. It can be used for sick/injured birds as well as if you ever want your hens to hatch out some eggs.

 

[Travis2013]

Ok so should I put the light at night for them and then off during day. It's high 70 at night and high upper 80 in day

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Oh I forgot to answer your question about the light- so yes they need a light if the temps fall outside optimal range per my above post.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/small-chicken-coop-designs-pictures-of-chicken-coops
Here is a link to the small coops section of BYC. Here you may find some ideas of how to house your chicks for the time needed for them to mature away from the older hens.

I hope this helps!

 

[Travis2013]

Thank you I appreciate it.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Ok so should I put the light at night for them and then off during day. It's high 70 at night and high upper 80 in day

Just saw this LOL.

So I would turn the light on when it goes below 85 if it were me. But check the chicks often and if they are chirping loudly they are cold. If they are huddled they are cold. If they are panting they are too hot, or if they are all clustered in the coolest section of the brooder they are too hot.