How long are chicks in brooder before putting outside?

[silkiechicken]

I brood mine outside. My brooder however has four walls and is draft free inside with brooder light. I suggest putting at least two or three walls on your tractors as drafts at any age can chill birds.

 

[chickenfever]

Yeah, I think you would definitely need complete shelter from wind and the heat lamp if you put them out now(at night). If it helps, I put mine out at 4 wks into a coop, no heat, 21 chicks. We also have had lows around 50. And they were just fine. But that extra two weeks gives them alot more feathers to keep themselves warm.

 

[packinaglock]

Hi ya'll new to the forum and kinda new to raising chickens. I had some chickens before but I had purchased them fully grown. I bought some chicks about a month ago ( 4 RIR's and 4 BO's and 2 BR's ) from what im reading it sounds like I would be safe to put them outside in the coop I built ( roof with open fenced walls ). Right now I have them in my shed totally protected from the elements. I would love to get them out of my shed I live in South Florida so getting cold should not be an issue but this is our rainy season now so they could get wet. I am a semi chicken newbie so I would love ya'lls advice.

 

[cheraboo]

I feel kinda bad for Hopper and Baby. They are about six weeks old now. We moved them outside last week. We have a turkey pen built by our 4- H club that is sitting empty now that fair is over with so we decided to move them outside. Of course now it is getting into the 50's at night but they seem to be doing great. They love it outside. The only problem now is that Jacob's not spending as much time with them as he should so they are a little wild. But at least we have some time to get our coop together for those really cold Michigan evenings that are coming our way.

 

[Mslynda]

Hi where are you in Texas? I am a teacher and my students are raising chicks for a science fair called ISWEEP. During the first 4 weeks can they do their exercises in a classroom or do they have to go outside? Thanks. By the way I am in Houston.

 

[azygous]

Hi where are you in Texas? I am a teacher and my students are raising chicks for a science fair called ISWEEP. During the first 4 weeks can they do their exercises in a classroom or do they have to go outside? Thanks. By the way I am in Houston.

Hi Mslynda! You've hitched onto an ancient thread. None of these prior posters is likely to be around at this time. If you begin your own thread, you will get more feedback than by sticking on this one. Just click on "Start new thread" at the top of the page.

But quick answer: chicks need only a square foot of space during the first four weeks, then they need a lot more or risk overcrowding issues.

 

[Blooie]

Hi. Guess you didn't notice that this thread hasn't had any posts since 2008. I think you'd get more responses if you started your own thread under "Raising Baby Chicks". Click on this link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/11/raising-baby-chicks

and then click on "Start a New Thread" and post your question. Annnnd I see my good friend @azygous beat me to it! She's always Johnny on the Spot - I tend to be a bit slower. But since I've already put in the link, I'll just post anyway!