do they need to be "hardened off"?

[LadyLuck]

We got some peeps the first of Febraury, they were 1-2 weeks old at that point, so they are now 9ish weeks old. They are fully feathered teenagers. However, because of the horrible weather, I've only been able to take them outside in the covered chick run a few times, they've spent the whole time in the garage (we built a bigger brooder). They are now big and stinky and really need to go outside, but I'm worried that they have never had the chance to gradually harden off (using a planting term here, not sure if it applies) so I'm worried. It is still getting almost freezing at night, the other night it did go below freezing.
When we did chicks last year it was only 60's at night so they were outside much sooner than this.

the other problem is that because they have been inside, they haven't had a chance to meet the flock through the fence very many times, nor have they been able to learn how to get from the chick run to the main coop, etc. I'll figure all that out as it comes though, right now I just need to know if I can put these stinky teens outside without freezing them to death.

 

[salt and pepper]

In your situation, if you have a separate chick coop, put a small heat lamp in there, just keeping it around the fifties, and slowly raise it until they can tolerate the cold.

 

[Fred's Hens]

My "teens" have been out in the barn since late February. All they need is just a night or two, with 100 watt bulb to acclimate and then? They're are more than good to go. We move ours out at 6-7 weeks. Nights were in the single digits. At 9 weeks, your birds are more than ready to take on the world. Long since time to kick them out of the nest.

 

[salt and pepper]

Pretty birds. I know it doesn't take long, I only kept mine on the light because I had bantam sized birds.

 

[LadyLuck]

thank you. The main coop has electricity, but the separate coop (where I will house them while they integrate) does not, so I'll see if dh will run a line out for a heat lamp. They HAVE to go out, but we are expecting freezing temps the next few night.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Another way to "harden them off" and yes, as a grower, I employ that same language, is to leave them without any meaningful supplemental heat in the 55 degree basement for the next 2 days. You'll see. They will do just fine. Then out they go.

 

[mattsinger]

at 9 weeks, they are ready to get out on their own. Dont worry about running electricity to the coop.