Can my chicks go outside?

[whitneywpanetta]

I am going out of town Thursday evening through Sunday and am trying to decide what to do with my baby chicks. We have someone coming to take care of our dogs and big chickens, but I am debating about my little babies. I am considering moving them outside today or tomorrow, seeing how they do, and maybe leaving them outside while we are gone. Option two is to take them to the beach with us. They just made a weekend trip to the mountains!

2 are 6-7 weeks old 2 are 5 weeks old. The lowest it is getting this week at night is 64, but mostly it is 69. The highest is 90. They are currently sitting under a heat lamp set at 80. They aren't ready to be integrated with my big girls yet, I think I will wait at least another 2 weeks, and I want to be around to supervise. If I move them outside I was thinking I could find a cage of some type and add an area they can sit in if it rains, etc.

Are the 5 weekers still too young to not be under regulated heat? Does anyone have a good source for a secure, temporary outdoor set up? It would be great to have something they could stay in for 4 more weeks. I would set it up next to my permanent run so the little babies and big girls can see each other with no access to each other.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I just had some 4 week olds out at 80 during the day and low 50s at night with no problems. They just hunkered together in the grass. I've had similar age chicks escape into the woods at night only to return in the morning, none the worse for wear.





If you have a predator proof space that is isolated from the hens, they're ready.

 

[whitneywpanetta]

I just had some 4 week olds out at 80 during the day and low 50s at night with no problems. They just hunkered together in the grass. I've had similar age chicks escape into the woods at night only to return in the morning, none the worse for wear.





If you have a predator proof space that is isolated from the hens, they're ready.

Thanks for the info! I just got stuff today to create an almost identical set up for my chicks!

 

[bobbi-j]

Mine were out in the coop the day I got them. (I have two coops) They had enough room to either be under or away from the heat lamp. The lows were down to 35 the first few nights. The heat lamp was shut off at night and they were let out into the run at 3 weeks old. The lows were into the mid 50's at that point. They are now 4 weeks old, going outside and doing just fine. I'd suggest making them an area in the garage if available, so they have some protection from predators and weather. At 5-7 weeks, they should be fine without a heat lamp.

 

[JodyJo]

Mine are 5 weeks, and have had access to the run for over 2 weeks....they choose to go out or not, they are still skittish, as grass and all is new, but they are venturing out more and more, if yours are safe, they are ready.....

 

[whitneywpanetta]

Thanks everyone! We put up an enclosed pen yesterday, right next to our chicken run. Our big girls are not loving looking at our new additions, but I'm sure with time they will learn to live with it. Our chicks are having a blast outside! My hub went to check on them after dark and decided we were being cruel to put them outside, with no heat lamp all at once. We decided to bring them inside, with no heat lamp last night to give them more of a transition. I think we will keep bringing them in at night for a week, then fully transition them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

... We decided to bring them inside, with no heat lamp last night to give them more of a transition. I think we will keep bringing them in at night for a week, then fully transition them.

Not a bad idea but a couple nights will be sufficient.

 

[aart]

Good to do a few days transition from an 80 degree heat lamp inside to no heat outside.......even if that is a bit old to be still using heat.
The warmer you keep them after the first few days the slower they'll feather out.

I gave mine a little huddle box with a lid, open on the upper half of one side and some shavings inside...just a bit bigger than what they need to lay next to each other.
They'll cuddle if they get cold and the lid helps them feel protected.

 

[Traphill]

Put them out with a lamp for a couple of nights.....they will be fine...really! They are your babies but they are chickens and prefer to be outside

 

[whitneywpanetta]

We put them out all night last night and they were just fine. The night before they were sleeping right up against the wire rather than in the box I set up, which made me nervous. Last night they discovered the box and piled up in there. My big girls have stopped whining so much about little chicks being next to their run. Hopefully in another couple of weeks we can transition the little ones in with the big ones. I am thinking when they are 8 and 10 weeks old?