HELP! Can I put my chicks outside before 6 week?

[Browniethechicken]

I have 3 week old chicks and I would like to put them outside in my coop/run without heat source at 5 weeks. Is this safe/okay? I understand 6 weeks is fully feathered and the customary time to put them outside. I live in Massachusetts and weather can be all over the place in September and October and usually cooler nights at 50 degrees. Definitely, the weather is trending to cooler.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as you wean them off heat before they go out, sure.

I typically pull heat around 4 weeks at around mid 40s.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Raised a batch of eggs from dry and fluffy to full size in my spare coop. All they had was a mama heating pad.

Four weeks they are feathered out typically. Start pulling their blanket (heat) and they will do fine IMHO.

 

[Browniethechicken]

As long as you wean them off heat before they go out, sure.

I typically pull heat around 4 weeks at around mid 40s.

Good advice! Okay, this helps me! So weening is key so as not to shock them with the cold! I have them at 80 degrees now…. At least that’s what the thermometer says directly under the heat lamp. Can I get them down to 50 degrees in two weeks? Too aggressive?

Raised a batch of eggs from dry and fluffy to full size in my spare coop. All they had was a mama heating pad.

Four weeks they are feathered out typically. Start pulling their blanket (heat) and they will do fine IMHO.

Okay! Thanks! So ween them off the heat? Too aggressive to go from 80 under direct light to 50 in 2 weeks?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good advice! Okay, this helps me! So weening is key so as not to shock them with the cold! I have them at 80 degrees now…. At least that’s what the thermometer says directly under the heat lamp. Can I get them down to 50 degrees in two weeks? Too aggressive?

You can probably get them weaned in 2 weeks (if it makes you nervous, do it over 2 1/2, 3 weeks). I'd drop roughly 10 degrees at a time every 4 days (or 5 degrees every 2 days).

 

[Shevraeth]

I had my chicks outside at a week old in June with a heat plate. I had one in the coop and another in the run, but since it was so warm out, they really only used the one in the coop during the night.

 

[Browniethechicken]

You can probably get them weaned in 2 weeks (if it makes you nervous, do it over 2 1/2, 3 weeks). I'd drop roughly 10 degrees at a time every 4 days (or 5 degrees every 2 days).

You are always a wealth of good advice! Thanks!!!!

 

[Browniethechicken]

I had my chicks outside at a week old in June with a heat plate. I had one in the coop and another in the run, but since it was so warm out, they really only used the one in the coop during the night.

That’s great!! I am sure they loved it! June is good chick time in my area. Hoping I can do a job with these colder fall temps in Massachusetts