can 5 week old chicks go outside?

[AnaD]

I put mine out at four weeks with a heat lamp. They feathered out quicker then my previous chickens who had a higher tempeture longer. They did very well even when temps fell into the freezing zone suddenly, but they were right infront of our patio window where it is warmer and protected from wind.

 

[sueche]

I had mine out for a few nights when it was warm, but brought them back into the garage for this cold snap, bbrrrr

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Mine have been outside for almost a week. No heat source. They are all almost 5 weeks old and fully feathered. They roost together or just pile up on the floor. Several inches of aspen and straw are down so they usually just find a buddy and sleep. It was 38 last night. I went out to let them out today and they all happily plopped out the coop door, did their daily scratching and then went back in when it began to rain. It's STORMING now and I have no doubts they are all curled up with a buddy or roosting together.

 

[CluckyJay]

I want ours out so much, lol. They are loud and stinky. I'm afraid they'll get wet and then die when were sleeping. I wish we had a shed with electricity, lol.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

Quote:
Are you Crossville,Tn? If they are fully feathered and get wet, they should be able to shake most of the water off to stay dry.

 

[CluckyJay]

Yea, Crossville, Tennessee.

Mine aren't fully feathered yet. They're just over 2 weeks. They're at that stage where I wanna fry them up to stop the mess, hehe. They are just now getting their chest and back feathers in.

 

[CowgirlPenny]

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Ahhhh, ok. They aren't quite there yet. Is that top pic a Production Red? Looks just like my ladies! Cute chicks.

 

[gritsar]

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My chicks are brooded outside, on the screened porch and off their heat lamps by 5 weeks old. They seem to feather faster, as if Mother Nature is taking care of her own.

My broody on the other hand has kept her chicks warm in the coop when it's been in the single digits outside. They feathered out even sooner.

 

[CluckyJay]

Yup, they're production reds. I am hoping by the time they have babies they will do the brooding themselves. We always had regular RIR growing up, so I cannot imagine how productions do with their babies.

 

[TNBarnQueen]

Quote:
CluckyJay....I was faced with the same problem. I kept mine in for 2 weeks and had to do something. No one was sleeping and getting grouchy.

We had a sink cabinet from a bathroom remodel. Hubby took it..put wire on the top..wire where one door was and on the other door cut out a section from the middle and put wire on it. I put it in our shed/hen house. The temps got down near 20 so I put plastic or a thin piece of wood on the front and turned on the heat lamp. They have done wonderfully. I love the bath cabinet concept and so easy to fix and are super sturdy. Now I am looking for more cabinets. Going to raise them on legs so they are eye level.