Chicks Old Enough to Go Outside?

[ChickenGirl555]

Lately, the weather has been cold and unstable. Every night the temperature ranges from anything in the 20s to 30s (Fahrenheit), and during the day it has been between the high 30s to low 60s. It's been raining and sometimes snowing--although it melts by the next day--for weeks now, and it doesn't look much better for a few more weeks.

I have 6 chicks that are getting quite big for their cage (and really stinky) in my house, and I want them to move out. We have a separate coop that just needs a quick clean and it'll be ready for the chicks to live in, and it's inside the run of the flock, so they can start integrating by see-don't-touch. They seem fine when I put them out in a small bunny fence run, but I'm worried about the rain and sometimes snow part.

They are 8 weeks old, the oldest 8.5 weeks. 2 are 100% cockerels, 3 are sexed females, one is undetermined (most likely female).

 

[Willowspirit]

I think they would be much happier in their coop. Can you put a heat source in it if you had to?

 

[seminolewind]

When I move my juniors out I hang a heat lamp over them and if in a crate, I hang it over one side though they can choose.

 

[chkva]

They're fully feathered so I definitely would. If they get too cold at night, you can always add a heat source to their coop. We tend to think they need much more heat than they truly need. My last 4 went out at 7 weeks and were fine through 30s with no heat, they hated the heat on and would run out of the coop until I shut it off! I just let them have it their way and honestly they made me realize it's not what I want, it's what they want.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They are plenty big and old enough and look to be fully feathered so they should be fine. Some people raise chicks outside from the beginning even in colder weather than that and yes even little tiny babies, and they are usually just fine as long as they have a heat source and a warm, dry, draft and wind free place to get away from the cold. And your birds look to be fully feathered so they might not even need a heat source. Are they off heat in the house? They should be fine.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Yes, they're off heat in the house and we usually keep it around 68-70 degrees (F), and we do have a heating plate we could give them if needed. I'll move them out tomorrow then and see how they like it.

Thanks!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, they're off heat in the house and we usually keep it around 68-70 degrees (F), and we do have a heating plate we could give them if needed. I'll move them out tomorrow then and see how they like it.

Thanks!

They should be alright then!! Although if they are used to much warmer temperatures you could always try putting them out during the day and bringing them in at night at first.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

They've been living in the coop since Saturday now, and they seem to be doing good! It's raining today but the coop covers most of the run anyway since the coop is off the ground.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They've been living in the coop since Saturday now, and they seem to be doing good! It's raining today but the coop covers most of the run anyway since the coop is off the ground.

That’s awesome! I’m glad!

 

[discobayblonde]

question: i have 1 hen from my previous flock and am ready to introduce my 4 new chicks outside. im planning on using the see but not touch method but dont know what to do about separate housing at night. any suggestions?