Can I let them outside now?

[banananutmuffin]

It's high in the mid-70s here, low in the mid-50s. They are 5 weeks old now, and fully feathered except for their heads. I have a 50 watt bulb on them that they snuggle under at night to sleep in my unfinished basement, but otherwise they don't need to want to be under the light particularly. Can I put them out in the coop now?

 

[Sylvialarry]

Mine are 6 weeks old and I put them outside when they were 5 weeks old. However they are not with the big girls and I do have a heat light in there. The big girls can see the babies and the babies can see them as well. My big girls do not like the babies. I do not plan on mixing them together until the babies are about their same size.

 

[banananutmuffin]

These are my first chickens, so no big ones to worry about.

I don't have power out to my coop, so I can't have a light on them out there. I'm just wondering if it's too cold for them or not. My gut instinct says that they'll be fine, but thought I'd check here with more knowledgeable folks.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Yes fully feathered, and you have a secure coop? Your chickens need to go home.

 

[TwoCrows]

5 weeks old is old enough to stay warm at most temperatures. I put my 5 week old Australorps out at 5 weeks with no more heat lamp and the temps were getting in to the upper 30's low 40's. They did just fine. Chickens adapt quite quickly and especially at that age they have enough feathers to stay warm, Yours will do just fine

 

[susannemw]

Can you let them out to free range at 6 weeks? We have no run yet, but I'd like to let them run around a bit. How do they know to come back - I need them to be able to do it without me having to catch all 14 of them one at a time.

 

[RaZ]

Mine have been out for nearly 3 weeks now. I have 5 chicks ~7 weeks and 5 ducks ~ 4 weeks. They free range in the backyard and both groups are putting themselves to bed with just a little encouragement from me.

Now the 6 3 week olds haven't been outside yet.

 

[banananutmuffin]

Thanks for the advice! I'll put them in their coop this weekend!

 

[TwoCrows]

As far as getting them to come back in for the night, my 9 week olds have no clue as to the need to get to safety for the night. So you may have to train them with food, luring them back in the coop.

 

[areyoumymother]

I put my 3 week olds in the big house last week....they are doing great...seems like they have doubled in size now that they have more room to roam in their run and find goodies to eat in the grass.... The June bugs are thick right now and they love'em