First time chick momma in AL

[Kellywhowho]

Hello. After many months of preparation, we finally got our girls. We have 4 Brahma, 4 Black Copper Maran and 4 Leg Horn. They are now 12-16 days old. I have been keeping them in a very large storage container with a heat lamp warmer on one end and cooler on the other inside my house. I’m ready to move them outside. We have an XL dog cage that we wrapped in chicken wire and I want to put them out on the deck. We’re in AL and it’s August the temps this coming week will be in the low 90s day time a low of 70s overnight. I don’t want to cause them any harm. Will they be okay outside as far as temps go?

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and welcome to BYC. Any possibility of moving them to a predator proof coop and run?

 

[N F C]

Hello, it's nice to have you here! @sourland raises a valid concern. If their coop is ready, they'd be safer in that than a dog cage (and chicken wire is useless as protection from predators).

Best wishes!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
As @sourland mentioned, permanently moving them to a predator proof coop and run would be ideal. The chicken wire wrapped large dog crate is not predator-proof. And it offers no protection from the sun or the rain if it starts raining.

 

[Fuchsia]

Hello
Welcome to BYC!

 

[Dr Evy]

Welcome to BYC. We’re so glad you joined!

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Boppo]

Glad to meet you, Kelly. Here is an article from a very experienced member, Blooie, about brooding chicks in the coop from the get-go. Your chicks are just about 4 weeks old, so in addition to the predator proof issue that everybody above is raising, you still need to think about temperatures for them. They need to be able to get cool enough if it's too hot for them, and in the night time, they will need more warmth than 70 degrees.

Why did you want to move them out so early?

Here is a handy chart for temperature requirements for chicks, though they will want options for cooler areas:

 

[Tookie]

Hello and welcome to BYC!