Can my chicks go outside.

[jstinsmommy]

I have an 11 week old buff orphington, and a 12 week old white Plymouth Rock. The coop has solid sides except wiring just along the top. It has an open wire door. It is suppose to get into the 40's tonight. They are fully feathered. Do you think they will be ok?

 

[Makomd]

If they are fully feathered they will be just fine. My experience is (as long as they are fully feathered) they take the cold much better than the heat.

 

[jstinsmommy]

Thank you so much. I always think because the still seem so small that it will be too cold. I feel better. Thanks.

 

[Mehjr10]

They will be good.

 

[mamacita0804]

I have 7 week old chicks that I just put outside, my coop not set up, so I put dog crate w solid sides into run filled w cedar chips. Well all 8 babies chose to be in the grass together instead of the 'warm' dog house and I don't think I've seen them this happy ..

 

[zazouse]

Did you know that cedar chips can be toxic to animals if they are in an enclosed type area?
Please post photos of your pretties when you can.

 

[realsis]

I have 7 week old chicks that I just put outside, my coop not set up, so I put dog crate w solid sides into run filled w cedar chips. Well all 8 babies chose to be in the grass together instead of the 'warm' dog house and I don't think I've seen them this happy ..

cedar chips are toxic!!!Please use a different bedding material!! The Farm stores sell bags of pine shavings really cheap. Tractor supply sells them for 4 dollars for a huge bag. You can get them in course or fine. I would change out her shavings asap into Pine to be safe. Just trying to help.

 

[mamacita0804]

Sorry bout that y'all . I meant pine shavings. I had cedar in the brain- I am using pine shavings. The dog crate has vents on top and I took off the front door - they go inside it to scratch then come right back outside.

 

[shmccarthy]

Yes they will be perfectly okay as long as they are fully feathered. 40 degrees isn't really that cold to a chicken, as long as you have a place where they can get out of the wind and weather, they will be okay. They have big fluffy down coats!

 

[donrae]

I have an 11 week old buff orphington, and a 12 week old white Plymouth Rock. The coop has solid sides except wiring just along the top. It has an open wire door. It is suppose to get into the 40's tonight. They are fully feathered. Do you think they will be ok?

Does this mean your coop has no roof? Or just a strip of wire for ventilation?

Your birds are fully feathered. They'd be fine down to -20 degrees. 40 is nothing to them.