Do you think it is too early to take my chicks out of the brooder?

[CDennis]

It's 100 for the high, 60 for the low, they are 3 1/2 weeks old. I haven't had a heat lamp on them in the tack room for over a week but there are younger chicks out there with lights on so it has been staying pretty warm. They are running out of room and I was considering putting them outside in a pen with a covered section. Is it too early with my lows of 60?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Where chicks are brooded is irrelevant. What matters is a proper environment and safety.

If you can provide that, then the where is unimportant. 3 1/2 week chicks are very, very close to not needing any supplemental warmth, not in those temperatures. Certainly, non of the chicks need any added heat when it is over 80-85 ambient temps.

 

[angel8035]

Can you hang a heat lamp in the pen so they can still go under it if they are cold? The rule is that you supplement heat until they are fully feathered, usually around 6 weeks.

 

[viktoriacl]

I started putting my 3 1/2 week olds out Tuesday. They are out all day with a rubbermaid container on it's side with shaving if they feel chilly. It's been in the eighty's this week. I bring them in at night because it does get into the 60's. I feel that's too cold for not being fully feathered out.

 

[CDennis]

Thank you. And I'll make sure they have a heat lamp at night for a few weeks longer. Thank you!