Growing Chicks

[ChickenLovr]

Well I don't have chicks yet, and I'm really new to registering to this forum (but I have been researching here) but I was wondering when your suppose to move your chickens from the brooder and into a chicken coop?

 

[biretta]

I've moved mine outside at 5 or 6 weeks of age when they're pretty well feathered out. This past fall I did use a heat lamp as it had gotten pretty cold.

 

[ChickenLovr]

Ok thank you, but do all chickens feather out around 5 to 6 weeks?

 

[ibpboo]

I don't remember exactly how old chicks are when they are fully feathered. Its been awhile since I've had baby chicks, but I have some right now, they are 11 days old. What I do is slowly condition them for the move outside by putting them out during the day without the light. It is currently 60* during the day now and they can stay out all day now. Today was the 4th day out all day, then I bring them back into the house into their cardboard box, and I turn the light on a little later for the night. I have a 60 watt white light bulb.
Welcome to BYC!

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
Pretty much, but it all depends on how warm of days and nights you're having. I do the same thing ibpboo does. Eventually, they just settle in for the night and you don't have to bring them inside.

 

[ChickenLovr]

Its been.... (temerature wise) maybe in the 40's to 50's at night (rarely the 40's though) around here and in the afternoons its been getting up to the low 80's.