Can I make the move outdoors safely?

[PNW_Peepers]

I have twelve - seven week old chicks. I’ve prepared a broody breaker in my coop as my “playpen method”. They’ll be in that during the evenings and cold/rainy days. I’ll be turning the brooder enclosure I have them in now into a run, that will run parallel to my current run. I’ll put them in it during the nice days to mimic what they’ll do as adults. My question is, when can they go in the coop and be outside.

Weather forecast:

Broody breaker (coop space)

What will be the run adjacent to our permanent run. (We will predator proof the bottom once they are in the coop)

This is all a temporary playpen method to introduce them to our older birds with minimal casualties. Once we feel they’ll get along-ish they can be with the big birds.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

They can go out anytime now. They should be fully feathered. Do you currently have them on supplemental heat? If so, wean 'em off now. As long as they are kept dry and out of drafts, they should be good.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

They they should be good to go. Check on them often. If you get a sudden temp drop say low 30's, you can put a cardboard box in as a "huddle box".

 

[PNW_Peepers]

They can go out anytime now. They should be fully feathered. Do you currently have them on supplemental heat? If so, wean 'em off now. As long as they are kept dry and out of drafts, they should be good.

They’re fully feathered and have been off their Brinsea warmer in the garage for a week now.