Chicks outside??

[Xiao Casa]

Yay, I'm glad it worked out for you. You've got some pretty hens in those photos!

 

[countrydream7]

i read an article a man says he puts his chicks out at 5 wks old no matter what..states more hardy than u think..i waited till mine were fully feathered and they are doing great .

 

[Bethel3330]

I live in Reno Nevada. The temps at night do not get below 50 at this time of year. My chicks are 4 weeks old. The weather is normally dry here, but we do get some wind in the afternoons, normally regularly. How soon can I put my chicks in their coop permanently? I don't want to hurt them by rushing them but I would like my Kitchen back.

my 5 week olds went to the coop when I brought them home Mother's Day weekend.

 

[countrydream7]

im sure they are doing ok especially this time of year..what did u get ?

 

[Jewellan]

im sure they are doing ok especially this time of year..what did u get ?

I'm not sure if that question was for me or not. But I got 3 EE's, 2 Barred Plymoth Rock, 2 White Leghorn, 2 Cuckoo Marans, and 1 mystery chick, which turned out to be a Buff orpington. I am happy with the breeds I chose. But I am also interested in Cream Legbar, Blue Arucana. Jersey Giants. Welsummers, Blue Favucana. But I have no more room to keep more than my 10 happy and healthy. So maybe in a few years I will try those breeds. We have pretty cold winters here in Reno, so they have to be cold hardy.

 

[karenerwin]

One more question:

Our coop has an open, ventilated bottom (another way of saying that the bottom is just hardware cloth). I figure that day-old chicks could fall through the holes and hurt their little legs, but since we want to raise them outdoors, what would you guys recommend? A big piece of cardboard on the coop bottom to create a temporary "floor"? And do they need bedding? I have some I can use for them if they need it, but if they don't then I'll just save it for the hamster.

By the way, we haven't actually purchased the chicks yet, just thought I'd put that out there since it sounds like we have from they way I refer to them.

I would probably use an old towel or blanket. I think the cardboard may be too slick, you don't want any chicks to develop splay leg. The bedding, in my opinion, is for ease of cleaning. If you use an old towel or blanket that will give them something "comfy" and it should help keep warmth in, better than the open(wire) floor.

 

[artsygirl]

Mine seem to like it out the coop, but sometimes they peep at night or huddle, if they are cold what is a good way to warm them? preferably without electricity.

 

[Xiao Casa]

I would probably use an old towel or blanket. I think the cardboard may be too slick, you don't want any chicks to develop splay leg. The bedding, in my opinion, is for ease of cleaning. If you use an old towel or blanket that will give them something "comfy" and it should help keep warmth in, better than the open(wire) floor.

Sounds good, thanks for the suggestion! So looking forward to having our chicks.

 

[subhanalah]

Mine seem to like it out the coop, but sometimes they peep at night or huddle, if they are cold what is a good way to warm them? preferably without electricity.

take a 5 gallon bucket, cut slots in the side, stuff strip of fleece through the holes so the chick's can huddle under it and it holds in their heat.

 

[Sylviaanne]

take a 5 gallon bucket, cut slots in the side, stuff strip of fleece through the holes so the chick's can huddle under it and it holds in their heat.

Can we get a photo? Thanks.