Help, moving chicks outside

[allisonwndrlnd]

I want to move my 4 week old chicks out too! They are starting to fly out of their brooder box. They have almost all of their feathers. It rarely goes below 50 degrees here. Can I out the in their coop with no light??

 

[okjenyp]

I just moved my 4 week old chicks outside today. Well, to the chicken coop. I won't let them out unsupervised for a week or two. I put a heat lamp in their coop so if they get cold they can warm up. But will remove it in a few weeks when spring decides to stay!it is currently 60 outside

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[SusanPC]

I'm so glad to read this thread! Our chicks seem more like chickens now at just over 4 weeks. It sounds like a lot of us are in the same boat. My husband and I have been saying we're moving the birds every day now for 4 nights in a row, yet they are still in our house. In my area (West Texas), the weather is so unpredictable. It seems like it will be in the 40s at night for the next few days and the days can be anywhere from 50s to 80s. Last night was definitely going to be a go with a 50s kind of night, but we had crazy strong winds yesterday and today and were nervous that they would be terrified by all the noise and shaking/rattling in the coop. I know - we're overthinking this. We do have the heat lamp out there ready to go and they are off the light in the house which is always around 70 degrees. They are getting very cantankerous and love being outside on the porch or in their run during late afternoons. Now if the wind would cooperate, hopefully we can get them out there in the next few days... Wish me luck! Here's a longish video of the 4 girls roaming on the back porch a few days ago. Buff Orpington-Daisy; SL Wyandotte-Ducchess, Barred Plymouth Rock - Lulu, and Easter Egger - Trixie.

 

[SusanPC]

Okay - after that long rambling last post, I realized that I'm probably overthinking this too much. I went home for lunch - even with the wind, we are having a glorious sunny day in the 80s. I quickly grabbed the girls from their indoor brooder and locked them in the coop for a few minutes while I put the food/water/grit essentials into the run. I opened the door from the coop into the run and they so sweetly paraded out down the ladder/ramp. They are now having fun in the run and the plan is to lure, herd, or put them in the coop overnight with the heat lamp. Yay for me!

 

[Realtree4]

Okay - after that long rambling last post, I realized that I'm probably overthinking this too much. I went home for lunch - even with the wind, we are having a glorious sunny day in the 80s. I quickly grabbed the girls from their indoor brooder and locked them in the coop for a few minutes while I put the food/water/grit essentials into the run. I opened the door from the coop into the run and they so sweetly paraded out down the ladder/ramp. They are now having fun in the run and the plan is to lure, herd, or put them in the coop overnight with the heat lamp. Yay for me! e

Reason #105 why I want to move to Texas!!!!

 

[swimM4r]

Chicks can live outside even in cold climnates as long as you have sufficient heat lamps they can all huddle under and no drafts. Its the wind chill that gets them (ive heard). I have only nine in my flock but they moved out in to the cold sierra-Nevada climate at week 3, and not one of them has been lost or sick, theyre fully grown now. IF its time for them to move out and you have a wind/weather-proof shelter with heat, do it.

 

[sandij]

My chicks are approximately 3 weeks old and have most of their feathers. I have had them in my house since we got them in a sealed off room. In the last few days the smell and the dust has gotten unbearable! I want to move them into the barn so badly today, but it is just below freezing outside. I have 2 brooder lights. Will they be okay if I move them out? The temperature is supposed to finally warm up tomorrow, but I don't want to wait. Of course, I will if I absolutely have to...

 

[sandij]

I have the same problem I can't stand it. It snowed here last night but is supposed to get to the 50's for a couple days. We are getting the coop done ASAP and putting all 30 of them out (with a lamp). Could you please let me know how it went. Thanks

 

[SusanPC]

Reason #105 why I want to move to Texas!!!!

Yes, when we have a good day, it's really nice, but tonight the low swings in at 51 degrees. It has not been unusual to have 40 and 50 degree weather swings from day to night. We've been experimenting with different bulbs in the coop and we're hoping to hold the coop temp. tonight under the light in the 70s. They'll still be able to get into cooler areas of the coop. After another week or two, we'll get rid of the lamp altogether unless we get into the 30s or low 40s. We've got a digital thermometer with a reader in the house. I'll probably be up every hour checking it tonight!

I should warn everyone jealous of our 80 degree day that we will hit 105 degrees for several days or possibly weeks straight this summer. Then I will be on the boards finding out how to keep my chickens cool! I've already discussed all the extra ventilation options - fans for the vents, etc.with my hubby. He always rolls his eyes when I start discussing what we need to do, but then jumps on board and takes off running with the idea. I guess I've learned some things after 25 years of marriage.

I feel sorry for those of you with these winter storms - hang in there!

 

[SusanPC]

Success! 4 1/2 week old chicks stayed outside in coop all night with heat lamp. Local temps only went into the 50s. We used a digital thermometer to monitor the coop temp. under the light from the house. Of course, I was up every two hours checking it. Since it was so warm yesterday afternoon, we had to keep turning on and off the light up until about midnight to keep the temp. under the light from going over 86 degrees. But once the cooler night kicked in, the temp. maintained in the 70s until about 5am this morning when it started dipping just below 70 degrees. I went out after the sun was coming up - about 7:30am and put their food out (I kept water in the coop overnight, but not food), and opened the coop door. The girls looked out, but stayed in the coop. I guess they thought that 60 degrees was too cold after a nice cozy night with their heat lamp in the coop! I left the door open with instructions for my hubby to turn off the heat lamp when he leaves for work later in the day. Should be another warm day, so we'll go through the process again tonight. I'm so excited to go home for lunch and see how they're doing.