Getting ready for the big move

[captcayanan]

The babies turn 4 to 5 weeks old this weekend, and I am more than ready to let them stay outside next week. Should i turn off their heat lamps this week so they get used to cooler outside temps? In the Seattle area, highs have been in the 60's with a few 70 degree days. Nighttime temps in the 50's

 

[rachlore]

I agree with turning off the heat lamp but as long as the temperature where they are is close to the temp outside where they will be. When I was ready to turn off my babies heat lamps, it ended up being hotter outside than it was in our house. I think that kinda messed up the senses for the first day or so but they have turned out okay. Good luck with your babies!

 

[captcayanan]

Thank you! I have 3 in one box and 6 in the other because of their size difference. They each had a heat lamp over them, so today I've repositioned one so it shines over both boxes.

 

[kortmom]

I put my six girls out on Sunday. They turned five weeks on Monday. They are in an enclosed coop. Night temps have been in the 50 to 55 degree range. They went out with no heat lamp and they are fine. I crack their windows during the day to let in fresh air but have been closing them at night because it has been very damp and cold feeling at night. They will be locked up for about two weeks or until my run is finished and then they will have access to the run during the day. That will be exciting for them

 

[kortmom]

Oops, I forgot to add that their last week inside I had pulled their brooder away from the heat lamp. I left it on for light but it was several feet away from the brooder. I would put up a towel to cover part of the brooder at night so it was a little darker. I also would turn the light out periodically for short intervals during the day to get them used to no light. They were in a room in my basement that didnt have windows, so if the light was off it was very dark. They were so scared without it, but they got used to it. This is my first batch but I have found that they are hardier than I had expected. Good luck.

 

[DLV58]

My 3 big girls will be 5.5 wks old on Sunday,
yesterday I took them outside in a wire cage for the first time,
today I turned off their heat light and in 2wks the coop/run
will be done and the girls will be outside full time...

Then my 2 little girls who are 2 wks old,
will be ready for their first time outside and so on.

 

[Sharon Bee]

My 11 chicks are 4 1/2 weeks old and I have been taking 4 and 5 of them outside the last few days in an enclosed area. It has been about 22 C here during the day or low 70's F. The rest are in the brooder in the garage and I leave the big door open for fresh air. They are loving it as far as they seem content.

I left heat lamp off all night last night for the first time . No light at all. I kept checking on them and was prepared to plug it back in but they were sleeping sound and in a big cluster. I hated to disturb them. I figured they were fine. Not piled on top of each other. It was 16C last night.

I am moving them to coop soon as they are outgrowing the brooder quickly.

 

[Sharon Bee]

Well they are in the coop for the first time tonight. I feel that they are more vulnerable now as they are farther away. I need a baby monitor. Lol. I'm worried about them out there.

They were chirping loudly at first. I put their brooder in for security. I peeked in on them and they were huddled in a corner !! Is this dangerous? I read they can suffocate this way?
I put them in the brooder one at a time as they were confused i think. Now they are sleeping in there - Iin the brooder. No light either. I was going to put a night light in but they were quiet so I didn't.

 

[captcayanan]

My babies survived their first night out in their coop. I can't say I had the best night sleep-i kept imagining evil raccoon claws reaching through the wire, but glad they seem fine. My new problem is with the 3 older bullies. I am making them stay in the tractor for a few days to let the 6 little kids establish themselves in the coop. Hoping this works.

 

[captcayanan]

Everything has worked out great with their new home. Had/have a little bullying issue with my 3 older chicks, but they all seem to get along better in the bigger space.