How big are your six week old chicks?

[wordgirl]

We're debating on whether we should move the brooder out to our wellhouse until the coop is built, or to leave them in our house. At four weeks they still fit comfortably in the brooder, but we're worried that they're going to get too tall. The brooder is, I think, about 17" from top to bottom, but there are a couple inches of litter, which shortens the total height by a little. So, my question is, how big are your six-week old Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, or Sex-Links?

*Photos wouldn't be objected to.

 

[lux_interior]

I think it depends on two things: How many chickens you have, and what kind/how big of a box they are in.

When I first got chickens, I had 5, and they grew FAST. They were all inside a HUGE cardboard lawnmower box, that was a great size for them at 4 weeks, but only inside the box....

My biggest problem with my chicks, was when they started perching onto the sides of the box..... because once they all start perching on the sides, they start pooing OVER the sides, and onto the floor... then, there were two who figured out it was fun to jump out of the box, and walk around the house... while also pooing. it was a mess! My coop was finished when they were about 5 weeks old, and out they went.

I currently have 9 more less than week old babies in a box inside, and I'm moving them out at about 3 weeks of age to avoid the mess and chaos from last time.

As far as breed specific, you may already know this, but the buff orps are usually very big very fast, and the rest grow quick too, at 6 weeks, they are definitely big enough to live outside.

If your coop is not done at six weeks, and they are still inside, I suggest putting chicken wire over their box if possible to prevent them from escaping, and pooing all over your house.

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

We had our Australorps and one Black Sex Link moved out of the brooder before they were six weeks old. They were just too big for our brooder. They did well in the pen at that age. It's very warm most of the time where I live. In fact, my black sex link just got out into the pen within the past couple of weeks and she is really enjoying the space!

 

[amyc]

I have 6 - 7 week old birds (GLW, SLW, Salmon Faverolles, PR, Polish Crested) that go outside every day. Their coop is still under construction, so I built a 4 foot by 8 foot playpen for them. They really like being outside, and it cuts down on the mess in the house. I actually can't wait to get them out of the house and reclaim my spare bedroom!

 

[kittyariel]

Mine just went out yesterday. They are just about 6 weeks old. I put a log under the coop opening and they have already figured out how to get inand out on their own!!!

 

[cackler]

We have 16 5-week old pullets. I've been putting them in a little covered cage during the day with access to the ground so they pick bugs and weeds and stuff. We have 9 older hens that free range. How old do they need to be to introduce them to the older hens? They are sure getting big fast!

 

[wordgirl]

Quote:
We have twenty chicks. Our brooder is roughly 40" X 44", and is already covered, but they LOVE jumping up onto the edges whenever the doors are opened!

We have 16 5-week old pullets. I've been putting them in a little covered cage during the day with access to the ground so they pick bugs and weeds and stuff. We have 9 older hens that free range. How old do they need to be to introduce them to the older hens? They are sure getting big fast!

I wish I could give you advice, but this is our first batch of chicks and I don't know. You might want to post it on a new thread, or look around the forum. I bet other people have wondered the same thing. And...

Oh – this is really silly, but how old are chicks usually when they're too big to fit through chicken wire?​

 

[GrammieAnn]

We got our chicks 3 weeks ago but they were not newly hatched. I was told most of them were 3 to 4 weeks old when we purchased. We have 1 banty Barred Rock, 2 Silver laced Wyandotts, 1 Gold laced Wyandott and 4 Buff Orps. They were in different stages of development when we got them.

One of the silver laced had a bare butt and the other one had only new fuzzy feathers growing back in. The others are all pretty well feathered out but the silvers still have some bare spots. Is it okay to put them in their coop here in Bozeman, Montana where the nights get down into the 40s still. We will put a heat lamp in the coop for the smaller birds but I don't think the older ones will need that now. They are outgrowing their brooder and need more space.

We are brand new to raising chickens.