Confusion on transition to outdoors for my chicks

[6inarow]

Hi,

I have 6 chicks of varying breeds who are all 7 weeks old now. We just finished the coop and moved them out a few days ago. Of course, the temperature dropped, but the coop seems to be maintaining 60 degrees since it is well insulated. However, they seem to be feeling very pent-up. I have a run attached to the coop, and the temperatures daily are in the low 50s. I am concerned about them getting too cold. I can add a lamp to offer some heat, but the area is 7'x5'x6', and the walls are open-air (with netting, of course), so I cannot guaratee complete termperature controll or a fully draft-free environment. Is it okay to let them start exploring the run, or should I wait until the weather warms and/or they have all of their feathers? (They have most now, but some are still at the "pin" stage). I'm still a newbie, does it show?

Thanks!

 

[n8ivetxn]

I live west of Oly, and I just recently moved my 4-6 week olds out to the coop. I went through the same anxiety. - They were just getting restless in the brooder and I felt bad for them.

I think if you add the lamp for a little residual heat, they should be just fine. My coop doesn't have electricity, wish it did....They would "thank you" for letting them out, if they could

 

[6inarow]

Thanks for your feedback. I set-up the lamp in the run a while ago. I thought I would let it heat up a bit then offer them the invitation.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Great! I think you'll be glad you did it...I love it when they discover they can jump and spread their wings and run around!

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I live in Tacoma and put my 4 week old chicks outside. They do not have a heat lamp and are doing great. Running around jumping up on things. eating all kinds of bugs. I put a bucket on it's side with hay in it for them to go into to stay warm at night.

 

[silkiechicken]

They will be fine outside in their new digs.

I put my six 3.5 not quite 4 week old chicks outside in their unheated brooder coop on the Friday of memorial day weekend. That was two weeks ago in Everett, WA.

 

[Panth]

I agree with Silkie...I laugh at myself a bit because the first time I got chicks they were 8 weeks old by the time I put them out. Now I just threw my 3 week olds out of the brooder to go pretend to be big chickies with the rest of the 5 week olds in my large grow-out pen. I was really really impressed by the fact that my 5 week olds only took 2 nights to figure out the whole go-in-at-night-to-perch-with-the-adults thing. Hoping the 3 week olds pick it up from them. They have secure seperate quarters with a heat lamp for night and it has been in the 70s during the day for them here. I use the heat lamp as a night light, not for actual heat, but it works wonders for showing them where you want them to perch.