chicks flying out of brooder

[johnson5under5]

Are my chicks getting too big for their britches? They are flying out of their brooder and seem perfectly happy out of the lamp. I feel bad putting a cover over their brooder if flying and roosting is what they want to do. I bought them as day old chicks on April 18. Your thoughts....

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

How old are your chicks? Mine are 5 weeks and I leave them outside during the day and them put them in the brooder over night. If they are old enough, you may be able to do that and just put a cover on during the night.

 

[johnson5under5]

Only about two and a half weeks old. I have been letting them outside this week since it has been in the 80's and it seems like they don't want to be in the brooder anymore. I wonder if it is too early to put them in an old tractor we have and put the lamp in there ? It is on the 60's overnight.

 

[featherfriendlyinIowa52]

I'm no expert being new to this myself, but if you have a heat light on them at night (after all, it is May) I would think they'd be ok in the tractor. If they'd been raised by their Mama, they'd be outside and fighting for space underneath her at night. With the heat lamp, there's no fight to stay warm.

 

[johnson5under5]

Thanks guys!