Chicks old enough to go out? pics included

[Eggstra New]

Wondering if you guys think these chicks look big enough and feathered enough to be out from under a light and in the coop in a separate cage from the big girls. It's been in the 60's here in Mi at night and in the high 80's during the day and humid. Want them out of my basement!! LOL! Also when are they old enough to merge in with the old girls? Thanks so much!

 

[laughaha]

You could put them out there during the day. There's only 7 so I'd be a bit worried about leaving them out there overnight, although if you threw an old comforter over them at night that should be enough help. They are definitely not old enough to merge with your adults. I wait till they are AT LEAST 1/2 as big as the adults, but I usually wait longer.

 

[chicmom]

Oh boy, do I know how you feel! I have chicks in the basement too that I WANT OUTTA THERE! LOL

I always wait to merge them with other chickens when they're almost the same size. Because the big girls will beat up the little girls if the size is too different.

Also, those chicks look kinda little to be outside all night. I always go by the rule.....fully feathered to be outside....so those little chickies just need a bit more time and they'll be ready!

 

[LauraG]

I would say they are not feathered enough. You should wait a while longer....

 

[Eggstra New]

Sigh. Ok guys! Thanks for the info!! I will wait.

 

[dangerzone]

I had the same problem too. To me the chicks looks around 2-3 weeks old? I can see that some of the feathers have come out. I suggest you take them out in the morning in their own fence when the sun is up. Let them scratch. Shelter them back before dark or when an impending rain is about to pour. This way they are used to going outside and by the time they are fully feathered, you can just leave them out.

You'll save electricity, feed and going down the basement. You can just watch them outside. Just make sure their fence are enough to keep them in and keep others out.

I let mine when they were 2 1/2 weeks. Now they are almost fully feathered. No problem. In fact they await for me every morning to take them out.

 

[hearthnsoul]

Mine have been out since a week old,..they are five weeks now and they have been in the large coop with the rest of the hens sonce last week, the only one who gives them grief is the hen that hatched them out

I found that as long as there is a lower roost the chicks did fine integrating