Colorado

[21hens-incharge]

Bill

I think a lot depends on how well feathered they are. I am putting my little ones in the coop but with a heat lamp at 4 weeks. I cannot take the dust in the house much longer. I still have 2+ weeks of them inside.

I would worry about our fickle Colorado weather giving us a surprise cold snap still being so early in the spring.

 

[Bill1st]

I would stick my chicks out there no problem and I live up here. As long as they are fully feathered, they are good to go.

I would say that they are mostly feathered not fully feathered. you would still go for it?

 

[Ashdoes]

Here are the Swedish flower hen chicks...

I haven't done pics of the cochin, and cochin mixes. It's hard to keep these guys still. The Swedish are quick little buggers, moving much faster than the bulkier Cochins.

 

[Ashdoes]

I would say that they are mostly feathered not fully feathered. you would still go for it?

We move ours out at 5-6 weeks. They'll huddle together, and should be fine. How many are there?

 

[Bill1st]

We move ours out at 5-6 weeks. They'll huddle together, and should be fine. How many are there?

there are 11 of them. 5 that are 5 weeks and 6 that are 6 weeks tomorrow.

 

[Ashdoes]

there are 11 of them. 5 that are 5 weeks and 6 that are 6 weeks tomorrow.

Yep, I think they'd be fine. We only had six in our first flock, and they went out @5weeks. You just get to the point where the dust can not continue! Lol.

 

[Ashdoes]

I want to add, I would put mine out at this age...but if something crazy happens, and there's a big dip in temp, I'd prob watch carefully. You could always do a welfare check around 10pm...

 

[Ashdoes]

16 hatched so far, do my hatch rate is improving!

I think maybe 2 were covered by my roo Lenny, but the rest are half ac. Some are platinum looking and have black skin, i haven't looked in everyone's mouths yet either.

I'm setting more eggs tomorrow after the straggler eggs have had time to catch up.

So what are you doing different, and which bator are you using? I know you were having issues with the Hovabator, and I had an awful time with it this last hatch. I practically babysat all day, and lockdown was a pain in the bootie. I had to put closed jars of water in it, just to help it hold the correct temp, down where the eggs sit. Up at the fan is was really hot, but it wasn't circulating very well at all. My husband says to just buy the Brinsea, but I have a hard time with the price.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine are getting so hyperactive OMG. Zoom this way Zoom that way Zoom some more. I think I will start putting mine in the brooder in the coop tomorrow for the day and bringing them in at night since that brooder is larger. Thinking I would keep the littlest ones inside for a while still.
Right now the coop temp is about 85 OH MY warmer than I want it. I went ahead and opened up some of the windows which is a pain since I have not yet figured out a good latching it shut method. I literally have to take a screw out to open them and put it back in to latch the window.

My white EE chick is getting a little bit of buff on the shoulders. Still cute though.
One of the Brahma will actually seek me out if I open the brooder and let them get on top of it. (I am calling her Cinders)
The Partridge Rock are very curious and get into trouble when out and about.
The Polish are still very small as are the Iowa Blue. They are the ones I would worry about putting outside for very long.
The BO are well BO very mellow and roll with whatever is happening.

Really enjoying having the little buggers.

 

[uzisuzuki]

OMG everyone's chicks are so adorable!

So, today is Day 14 for my 4 eggs & my second to last day of checking the eggs:

It's getting harder to see what's inside the eggs, but I can still see movement. I'm getting very nervous since this is the last week. I hope all 4 make it through this last week & through their hatch.