Fast feathering at 5 weeks-what is normal?

[slc]

My first flock is almost 6 weeks now. They have looked fully feathered since 4 weeks. At 4 weeks they averaged about 7.5oz each and now they are grown out of their #7 leg bands. All have combs turning color and cockrels getting spur buds too. They are Orpington, Australorp, Brahma, easter eggers, Wyandottes, New Hampshire x RIR, and Chanteclers. The Brahma was too big at 4 weeks for #7 leg bands. The Polish are about an oz behind but just as tall. I'm just curious since most information suggests they need 8 weeks in a brooder. Mine are way past ready to be out of that brooder at under 6 weeks. Is this normal?

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I moved all of my standards outside at about 4-6 weeks. I would think that as long as it's not getting frosty at night, and they are fully feathered, they will be just fine! I keep reading that too, but I can't imagine having 8 week old standards in a brooder!!!

 

[RendonRoo]

Sounds like well fed and cared for chickens. It sounds rather normal to me though. Breeds do develop at different rates but i don't think yours are that far ahead of the norm.

 

[slc]

Ok here is an update. One of the cockrels found his voice overnight and is now crowing in my basement! Crowing at 5 weeks. Now I really need to get them out to the property.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

They will be fine outside!

I put my chickies outside in a tractor at the end of April when they were 2 weeks old. At night they went in a wire cage in my garage. After about a week I left the wire cage outside and covered with a blanket until the last of the frosts and they were mostly/fully feathered.

Chickens are pretty tough once they have mostly feathered out. The way I look at it is this: I live in VT and I want the toughest of tough to survive because our winters can be pretty cold. I think hardening them off young has many benefits, once they're past the delicate fluffy baby chick stage...

 

[SimplyForties]

I put mine out at three weeks. Some of those dates you read are based on weather. If you got chicks in say February and live up north (as you do) you would keep them in longer than if you got them in June. I wouldn't worry about having to fit into the average deadlines you read about.