Chicken housing

[ChickenDude12345]

Hi, my chickens are almost 4 weeks old and are getting very big and showing signs of wanting to be outside. They still have a tiny bit of fluff on their heads. Should I just wait another week and not rush putting them outside or is it OK. The lows are mid 40s to mid-50s and the highs are in the 70s. Also, I am going on vacation on the 3rd of July and want them outside by then but I don’t know when they’re ready to go outside, now or later?

 

[rosemarythyme]

They can be moved out now, WITHOUT heat, however if you haven't yet weaned them off heat and started acclimating them to outside temps, you should do that first for about a week before they move out permanently.

Might be tight trying to get them into a routine before you leave for vacation, but ideally you'd get them moved out in a week, then the next week ensuring they learn to go into the coop at night for their own safety, and then after that the pet sitter just needs to keep an eye on food and water, and let them out/put them in at night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks a lot! I am going to start weaning them off the heat starting Monday when they are 4 weeks old for that whole week, also how should they do that? And then the 5 days after this week I will get them to go in the coop

What's your heat source? If it's a heat lamp, you can swap out for a lower wattage bulb, or turn it off for half the day, for example. If there's windows where the brooder is, you can prop them open to let in the cooler outside air. Or you can take them outside for increasing duration, i.e. 2 hrs the first day, 4 hrs the second, etc. Or you can combine some of the above - anything works as long as you're reducing the amount of heat they get, and/or increasing the amount of time they're exposed to outside temperatures.

As I brood outdoors with a heating pad I simply turn down the heat level every 5 days or so until it's off. By then the chicks are around 4 weeks old and fully acclimated to outdoor temps, just like that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can you turn off the heating in the garage? If so, I would consider turning off one heat source first (either lamp or garage heater) and then after a few days, turn off the other, and that should bring them fairly close in line with the outside temperatures.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok and then keep them out for most Of the day and increase the time outdoors everyday?

That'll work. Really shouldn't have too much issue with moderate temperatures and age of chicks. Best of luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

No heat lamp?

As you've seen from comments, we all do things differently. For me, 4 week olds are off heat (down to mid 40s) and integrated with the flock. Many people take things slower. Do what feels comfortable for you.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I’m not a fan of using a heat lamp when someone won’t be able to watch it in the coop or to call if the coop starts on fire. Will someone be at your house all the time while you are gone?

 

[CluckerFamily]

Is your coop ventilated well?
It is recommended that you keep the new members locked in the coop for a couple weeks so they understand where they go at night. If you don’t do this, you or the person taking care of them will have to coax them into the coop every night and this can be stressful on the chickens and the person who doesn’t know what they are doing.
This may help the person so all they have to do is food and water and they don’t need to let them out.
Make sure the feeder and waterer is fully stock just in case the person taking care of them forgets. There have been bad situations when owners return and the babysitter forgot to stop by, forgot to lock them in the coop and a predator stopped by, or they don’t know chickens And didn’t notice someone was sick.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The lows this week are going to be in the 50s and 2 nights in the mid 40s what do you think I should do?

If they do fine in the 50s, they should do fine in 40s too, as long as there's draft free places for them to sit in the coop.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

What a wonderful, helpful bunch. For reals .
i love BYC!