Hello! So my chicks are about 2 weeks old right now and I was wondering when I'd need to move them into a bigger container and then after that when they'd need to go outside. There are seven of them and they are currently in a 50 gallon Rubbermaid tote (43.81" x 22.81" x 18.16") and for now of course they're doing fine in that. However, I don't know how big these guys are going to get (assorted heavies) so I'm not sure when to be prepared for the next step. Any information would be appreciated because I'm just overall clueless. I have a plan for where they will be going once they're outside full time but I don't know how it works in the times between brooder and outside. Thanks so much!
Well, at about 8-12 weeks you could move them outside, though you might want a heat lamp in their coop because it could get pretty cold, it would just be a safety precaution. Remember if you don't have room chicks are small and can go in pretty small areas, as long as there is clean sawdust, water, and food. Hope that helps you, and good luck!
I would think if they aren't already crowded, they will be in another week or two. They start growing quickly after this. I'm not much help on where to put them, your profile doesn't say where you are located, so I have no idea what your temps are. It always helps to have your location in your profile, as so many answers "depend". I am in CO and I brooded my chicks outside in the coop from the day I got them (march). I have a shed coop so was able to put a heat lamp inside to provide heat. Once they are fully feathered, they should be able to go outside. There are 7 of them so they will keep each other warm. Don't be worried that they keep sleeping in a huddle on the floor. They will probably keep doing this until they are 3-4 months old. When they are ready to sleep on the roost, they will start doing it on their own. Once one starts, the others usually follow. Good luck.
Yeah, sorry I didn't include location, I didn't even know you could change your profile to say so (I've only used this site on my phone). I'm located in Southern Arkansas so during the days it can get around 70s and up but some nights it still plummets to 20s and I just don't know how hearty these guys are. It'll also depend on when I'm able to get the coop/run up and settled (hopefully this week). I think I'm probably going to keep them inside (and by inside I mean the garage with their heat lamp) until around 6 weeks or until they're just too large to handle in their current living quarters.
Keep them under a light till there about 8-9 weeks old. Then you can move them in to a brooder box. If it gets cold at night put the light in the brooder box. When there about as big as your othere put them in the coop.I say that beacause all chickens grow at different speeds.
