Can I Bring My Chicks Outside for A While Yet?

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I agree, to a point. The OP said it's "typically breezy", the breeze concerns me more than the temps.
To the OP - If you do it, try to pick a day when the wind is calm. You'll have to watch over them like the mama hen would. If they are moving around, making quiet peeping noises, then they're fine. If they start to huddle and begin to peep loudly, it means they are chilled and need to go back under their heat lamp.
I don't believe in keeping chicks under their heat lamp for an extended period of time. Mama hen has them out from day one, always ready to take them back under her ultra-warm wings and body if they show signs of chilling. Just MHO.

I agree with gritsar. When the babies get cold, they go looking for shelter. If you're out there with them, you'll know when to bring them in, just like the mama hen does. In my experience/observation, the mamas take their clues from the chicks as far as when the chicks need some warmth.

With all due respect to the guidelines for temperature, i have pretty much decided to ignore them. My chicks have never conformed to those rules at all. I just make sure my babies can get as warm as they want to when they want to.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
What is cocci exposure? Never heard of it.

Seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on this, tough call....

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

I was thinking of taking my 4 BR chicks outside after they turn 3 weeks old. Do you think that is to early? But only if the grass wasn't wet or if it was breezy.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
What is cocci exposure? Never heard of it.

Seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on this, tough call....

Protozoa that sometimes overwhelm the system of newly exposed chickens, live in the soil. When a chicken's system is overwhelmed by these particular protozoa, it is called coccidiosis, shortened, cocci. I ramble on about this extensively in the link contained in my signature.

 

[suebee]

Let them go out....the earlier the better. They will be fine with temps over 68 degrees.....trust me.

Learn more about raising chicks here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=283953

 

[kimb]

Let 'em out! ! !

Mine have been going out (with mom- she hatched them) since they were 1-2 days old... I'm in NH and it hasn't been fantastic weather (they are kept locked in when it rains/very poor weather) ... they're a week old this weekend and LOVING life ... they actually spend quite a bit of time out away from their mom ... at least a good 20-30 minutes +++ if they get cold they'll PEEP loudly and huddle... if they're running around happy , they're not cold

Let 'em out ! let 'em be chicks...

 

[AccioSarah]

I took mine out at 2 weeks on a very warm day for about 10 minutes... they LOVED it. Now they are 4 weeks and want to go out all the time. I try to bring them out on every warm day... soon their coop will be done and they can go out and stay out.

 

[Lorije1]

I think you will be fine to take them out for a few minutes on a sunny day. As far as the breeze goes, I set my "brooder" (a big rubbermaid tote) alongside the outdoor kennel and it blocked the breeze and gave them some shade if they wanted out of the Florida sun. If you care enough to come on here and ask, you care enough to be attentive to their signals they give as far as if they are cold or ready to go inside.
(I also dumped a little box of dirt from the run in the cage with them.... after I got over the heart attack thinking they were dying, I loved watching them sun bathe and dust bathe!)

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
Thank you, yes, if anything I am perhaps overly concerned, but certainly not going to toss them in the yard and forget them! I just thought a few, short monitored outings would be nice to for them. Can't wait to see the dust baths! How old were yours when they did that??

Kimb, what part of NH are you in? It's been moody here, some days are super warm and others are very cool, so I'll play it by ear.

 

[Lorije1]

Well.. my first batch I got in cooler weather so I filled a shoebox lid with dirt and pointed the heat lamp to it (inside)- they were just a week or 2 old. The 2nd group I took outside at about 3 weeks and just dumped some dirt in one end of a big wire dog kennel (wrapped in hardware cloth). This last group I have been taking outside since they were about 4-5 days old (best I can estimate). They will scare the gee-willies out of you though... stretching out on their side, one wing and one leg all cock-eyed and stretched out... then kicking the dirt like they are in death throes... once you settle down it's quite funny.