Eastern Washington

[Saris]

Since you guys know what the local weather is, when do you plan on moving your chicks oitside? Mine are 3 weeks old on Wednesday and I'm hoping to move them outside permanently around the 2nd week of May. Is that too soon? I have 14 and they are getting cramped in their current home. I'v got a temporary fix by separating a few of them into a second box, but they will outgrow that quickly too. I guess I'm asking if it's better to have them outside with the heat lamp or inside and cramped? They aren't pecking each other yet....

 

[Scram85]

Since you guys know what the local weather is, when do you plan on moving your chicks oitside? Mine are 3 weeks old on Wednesday and I'm hoping to move them outside permanently around the 2nd week of May. Is that too soon? I have 14 and they are getting cramped in their current home. I'v got a temporary fix by separating a few of them into a second box, but they will outgrow that quickly too. I guess I'm asking if it's better to have them outside with the heat lamp or inside and cramped? They aren't pecking each other yet....

Are they all feathered up? Also, I am overprotective so I did it when the outside temp was the same as what it would be if I decreased the the temp by 5 degrees once a week in the brooder...

 

[Saris]

Are they all feathered up?  Also, I am overprotective so I did it when the outside temp was the same as what it would be if I decreased the the temp by 5 degrees once a week in the brooder...

They have all of their wing feathers. They are currently getting feathers on their necks, backs, and chests. I feel like they will have most of their feathers in the next couple weeks. I've moved them to a new enclosure that has some more space so they can be inside a bit longer.

 

[jennabug]

They have all of their wing feathers. They are currently getting feathers on their necks, backs, and chests. I feel like they will have most of their feathers in the next couple weeks. I've moved them to a new enclosure that has some more space so they can be inside a bit longer.

I'm glad they get to be inside a bit longer. You could probably have them outside if they had a lot of wind/cold protection and could huddle together, but it seems early.

 

[Saris]

I'm glad they get to be inside a bit longer.  You could probably have them outside if they had a lot of wind/cold protection and could huddle together, but it seems early.  

Me too. We have a coop and a run already built for them, they've had playtime in the run and when I move them out permanently I will be putting them in the coop part at night and locking them in. I also plan on having the heat lamp out there at first, in a couple weeks of course. ;-)

 

[littleredwagon]

@Saris what kind are your chicks??

I'm going to keep my brooder in my green house until they're big enough to go outside. And if they don't like it, I have shed space I can move the brooder into.

 

[Saris]

@littleredwagon

I have a variety. 3 buff orps, 2 gold sexlink, 1 maran, 1 blue andalusian, 1 speckled sussex, 1 rhode island red, 2 Wyandottes, and 3 cream legbar mixes. One of the mixes is a roo unfortunately.

 

[littleredwagon]

Wow quite the flock!!
Well...your husband might try to eat him if he crows too much. Are you in the city or outside?
I'm just starting with 3. I'll let the chicken math catch up eventually

@littleredwagon

I have a variety. 3 buff orps, 2 gold sexlink, 1 maran, 1 blue andalusian, 1 speckled sussex, 1 rhode island red, 2 Wyandottes, and 3 cream legbar mixes. One of the mixes is a roo unfortunately.

 

[Saris]

Wow quite the flock!!
Well...your husband might try to eat him if he crows too much. Are you in the city or outside?
I'm just starting with 3. I'll let the chicken math catch up eventually

I'm in the city, about a few minutes from the spokane arena. My neighbors are excited about the large number of chickens too, they all want some eggs. Chicken math, haha, I love that term.

 

[littleredwagon]

I'm in the city, about a few minutes from the spokane arena. My neighbors are excited about the large number of chickens too, they all want some eggs. Chicken math, haha, I love that term.

Cool!! I know where that is. My friend with 2 hens isnt too far. We dont have many neighbors but the ones across the street have huuuge coops! Never hear crowing though.