How do you know when they are fully feathered? ( Picture Added)

[Carenm]

Our chicks are just going on 4 weeks old and look pretty feathered to me but I am no expert. They are Red Stars. We've been letting them outside in an upside down old style play pen for the past few days and bringing them in for the night. They have not needed their heat lamp on either while inside at night and we keep the heat at 68.

It was too windy today to let them out so I put them in their coop for the first time. It still needs done but we stood and supervised them playing in it for about an hour, they had fun playing and exploring. We really have no way to get a heat light out there and its still too chilly at night, I think, unless they are full feathered.

How do you know when they are full feathered?

 

[speckledhen]

If you look under their wings and on their tush and they don't have baby fuzz anymore, they're fully feathered. Mine are over six weeks old and just now seem completely feathered. Five to six weeks is usually the time for that. I put mine in the coop with a heat lamp at three weeks old, though.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Four weeks seems a little young unless you have a heat lamp for them to snuggle under at night. At four weeks, chicks still need a temperature of about 80. Their mama would provide them with warmth needed. Post some pictures so we can ohhhh and ahhhh!

 

[Carenm]

Quote:
Here is my daughter who we now call Mama Hen with them

Yes, they poop on the carpet and yes, we do clean it. Usually we let them play outside but its been too windy

 

[Carenm]

And odd but when they were just less than week olds they preferred 80. Now they are totally content and its 65 where we keep them. They don't huddle or cry at all. Just lay down and do their chicken thing at night.

 

[Lollipop]

The most important feathers on a young bird are the feathers that cover the back. Chicken lungs are located close to the back. If the lungs get chilled, the bird gets pneumonia and dies.........Pop

 

[speckledhen]

They don't seem quite feathered enough to me yet. Too much baby fuzz still showing.

 

[Carenm]

Thanks for your feedback. May wait another week or 2 before moving them then