BROODING WEEK OLD CHICKS OUTSIDE?

[LadiesAndJane]

They should be fine. Chicks don’t need heat all the time, they just don’t. If you look at nature, the chicks barely go under the hen during the day. A heating plate will let them warm up if they get cold, probably more often than if a hen was raising them.

Heating plates aren’t meant to act like heat lamps. They go under when they get cold, and they don’t use it when they aren’t cold. They normally sleep under it at night, and the day temps seem high enough there for them to be fine. Mine were in a 68 degree Fahrenheit with a heat plate for their whole childhood, and they did perfectly fine. I wouldn’t fret too much, they should be fine.

Thank you for your reassurance! I have been using brooder plates inside all year and I love them! I will set up the area for the littles and see how they do, of course that doesn't mean I won't be checking every hour anyway, at least at first!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

So, my DH if tired of having various chicks inside pretty much constantly since May. I have 2 chicks left from a hatchery order that I want to keep. They are one week old today. I was thinking to brood them outside, inside the coop, inside a large chinchilla cage, with a brooder plate which they are already used to. Night temps are in the 60's, day temps in the 80's. They will be protected from drafts. My concern is there are only two of them, so will they be warm enough?
Thanks for any assistance!

Yes they will. Especially with plenty of nice bedding material to keep them nice and warm in at nice close together like wood shavings. Non treated though.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I brood chicks outside too. In fact that’s why I deliberately raise most of my chicks in June thru August. They rarely need a heat source past the first 2 nights. It works really well and the chicks love being outside. Here’s a video of my latest group of chicks outside with no heat!

This is my brooder coop, the Chick Chalet!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-chick-chalet.75684/

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I brood chicks outside too. In fact that’s why I deliberately raise most of my chicks in June thru August. They rarely need a heat source past the first 2 nights. It works really well and the chicks love being outside. Here’s a video of my latest group of chicks outside with no heat!

This is my brooder coop, the Chick Chalet!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-chick-chalet.75684/

Just read your article. Love it, it is awesome!

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Just read your article. Love it, it is awesome!

Thank you kindly!