Can I put my 5wk olds outside???

[Amy1444]

I have a 5wk old chicks, all fully feathered..I am in NJ the temps have been 60-70 during the day and 40-50 at night???My friend would like to come take hers today. I want them OUT of the house!! Do you think they would be ok or should I wait another week? Thanks in advance.

 

[BigBadCryBaby]

Yes. 5 week olds are good to go, no problem.

 

[zrachie]

Hello there...I think you would be okay if you can run the heat lamp at night in there for them...but I might not be your best source for info as I am new to this too! Good luck and welcome~!

 

[Amy1444]

Awesome I am going to tell her to come take hers and that would greatly help me..my coop is not yet finished and my hubby just started the state police acadamy..between the chickens, dogs, and kids I am going nuts! LOL

 

[mockcherry]

According to my 4H leader, it's 5 degrees for every week. So at five weeks temps would need to be at 70. According to that, I would be using a heat lamp at night still. I'm in NJ too. Mine are 7 weeks and with temps dipping into the 30's still, I've had a heat lamp on at night, but they've been out during the day ranging in their pen. I do have them in the coop - I ejected them from the house at 5 weeks too, couldn't take it! But I ran an extension cord for the heat lamp. HTH.

 

[Amy1444]

Right now they are in my unheated basement, i took the heatlamp away 2 days ago because I needed it for new chicks I just hatched! Mine will stay in the basement another week until the coop and run are complete. I do think the ones my friend is taking will be fine they are all fully feathered.

 

[bagendhens]

well, i know the 5 degree trick, but in all honesty i have a mixed bath of 2-3 week olds, and its much lower under the heat lamp than would be suggested for even the 3 week olds, but ive ben adjusting temps based on them and not the thermometer and even now with the lamp almost off they still sleep, even at nights, scattered around the pen comfortably, every so often ill find a younger one snuggled under the wing of an older chick, but its not that frequent.
id say if there without a lamp already and doing fine and are well feathered the temps should be no problem. check on them the first few nights (especially if theres a cold snap come through) but i wouldnt worry too much.

 

[BigBadCryBaby]

If they're pretty well feathered and it's dry in the coop, you're going to be okay. Really. A lamp isn't necessary, unless it's getting down into the 40s or so at night.