Can they go outside?

[AnneGirlGG]

Hi everyone! I've got a group of 5 chicks that'll be 3 weeks old on Monday. They have been going outside every day this week and have spent the entire day in a safe and separate run. They LOVE their outside time and throw a literal fit when I put them back in the brooder.

I was thinking I might move them into the coop/run on Monday when they turn 3 weeks. I would, of course, put their brooder plate with them. I've got a small run they will be in so they're able to see the rest of the flock but no one can physically interact. They stopped sleeping under their brooder plate when they were 1 week old, inside my house. The room stays about 70 degrees right now.

Our weather over the next 2 weeks (starting the day they'd go out) looks like this:

50 to 56 F lows
80 to 85 F highs

Will they be okay in the coop with their brooder plate? I don't want to move them too soon, but they're so happy outside. The babies are 3 Blue Orpingtons and 2 that are maybe production somethings, I dunno they were the free chicks and I haven't pinned them down yet.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Will they be safe from predators?

Will they stay dry if it rains?

Can they get out of a strong breeze if the wind kicks up?

They will have a heat sourced if they need it.

Many of us raise chicks from hatch outside. My brooder is in the coop, I've had chicks in there shortly after hatch with temperatures below freezing.

Don't be too surprised if they are ignoring the heat plate in a week or so. Maybe even before.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Will they be safe from predators?

Will they stay dry if it rains?

Can they get out of a strong breeze if the wind kicks up?

They will have a heat sourced if they need it.

Many of us raise chicks from hatch outside. My brooder is in the coop, I've had chicks in there shortly after hatch with temperatures below freezing.

Don't be too surprised if they are ignoring the heat plate in a week or so. Maybe even before.

Yes to all of these.

I was surprised to see them ignoring the brooder plate inside at 1 week old, honestly. The room is warm, but I guess I wasn't expecting them to start sleeping out from under it at just 1 week old. Thank you so much for your advice!

 

[Collieoftheborder]

Hello there! I was searching the group and came across this post. My chicks are 3 weeks old today and I'm tempted to move them out. It's a bit cooler than what your weather was with the lows in the mid 40s and highs in the low 60s. How did your chicks do?? Any advice?

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Hello there! I was searching the group and came across this post. My chicks are 3 weeks old today and I'm tempted to move them out. It's a bit cooler than what your weather was with the lows in the mid 40s and highs in the low 60s. How did your chicks do?? Any advice?

Good morning! My babies are 5 weeks old now, and I did put them out when I said I would in this post, the day they turned 3 weeks old. They are fully integrated with my bantams now and very happy.

I left the brooder plate in the coop, inside their integration run, for the first full week. I don't think they used it much, if at all. But they knew where it was if they needed it. Even on the mornings when I would go down at sunrise and it was right at 40 degrees, they were up and about and not showing signs of being cold.

With 60s/40s, if your babies have access to a heat source if they need it, and as long as they can get away from any wind or rain, I would think they'd do well outside. What breeds are they?

 

[Collieoftheborder]

Good morning! My babies are 5 weeks old now, and I did put them out when I said I would in this post, the day they turned 3 weeks old. They are fully integrated with my bantams now and very happy.

I left the brooder plate in the coop, inside their integration run, for the first full week. I don't think they used it much, if at all. But they knew where it was if they needed it. Even on the mornings when I would go down at sunrise and it was right at 40 degrees, they were up and about and not showing signs of being cold.

With 60s/40s, if your babies have access to a heat source if they need it, and as long as they can get away from any wind or rain, I would think they'd do well outside. What breeds are they?

Yes it is a very secure coop with ventilation up high so it shouldn't be drafty and the run is fully covered so there should be no problems with them getting wet. I have 25 Austrolorps and 9 New hampshires, and 2 mystery chicks.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Yes it is a very secure coop with ventilation up high so it shouldn't be drafty and the run is fully covered so there should be no problems with them getting wet. I have 25 Austrolorps and 9 New hampshires, and 2 mystery chicks.

Oh yeah, my thinking is they'd be fine. I have 2 mystery chicks too. From Meyer Hatchery. I'm still not sure what they are.