how long should i keep my chicks in the brooder?

[chickenking190]

how long should i keep my chicks in a brooder? befor i let them out with the older hens

 

[kattabelly]

What temperatures are you getting during the day and at night right now? How many chicks do you have, what breeds and how old are they now?

How will they be housed once you do put them in with your older hens? Will you be able to separate them at all? Pictures might be helpful.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Where's the brooder located? Is it outside where the hens can see and hear them? What are your temperature and weather conditions like right now? How old are the chicks? What does the run look like - is there a secure or safe area where only chicks can access?

 

[chickenking190]

What temperatures are you getting during the day and at night right now? How many chicks do you have, what breeds and how old are they now?

How will they be housed once you do put them in with your older hens? Will you be able to separate them at all? Pictures might be helpful.

the temps have been about 50°F–53°F we have 26 six chicks they are
Ameraucana, isa browns, they are 2-3 day oldwe just have a place that the older hen cant get to

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

the temps have been about 50°F–53°F we have 26 six chicks they are
Ameraucana, isa browns, they are 2-3 day oldwe just have a place that the older hen cant get to

Post picture of your available space, when you can.

 

[Nonafel]

Generally 4-6 weeks, whenever they have their feathers.
You'll want to take them off the heat for a bit before you move them out, just so they have time to adjust.

If your new location has heat for them, and is safe from them getting to the older chickens as well as in reverse, then really anytime.
However moving baby chicks often can be stressful for them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Here are a couple of articles about integrating younger chicks with older hens. You want to take care doing this, as sometimes the hens might be a bit rough on the newcomers.

This is my article on Integrating:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-a-pictorial-guide.79343/

And here is another excellent article on integrating flocks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-chickens-step-by-step.72815/

 

[chickenking190]

Generally 4-6 weeks, whenever they have their feathers.
You'll want to take them off the heat for a bit before you move them out, just so they have time to adjust.

If your new location has heat for them, and is safe from them getting to the older chickens as well as in reverse, then really anytime.
However moving baby chicks often can be stressful for them.

Ok thank you

 

[Ridgerunner]

I see two different issues, weather and integration.

the temps have been about 50°F–53°F

I don't know if these are highs, lows, or some kind of average. The extremes are where you will see the problems. Most chicks are feathered out at around 4 to 5 weeks so they can handle most temperatures at that age. That means they won't die from cold. But if your lows are below freezing I'd still be cautious. Also, they need to be able to get out of a wind, a wind strong enough to ruffle their feathers can cause them to lose insulation properties of the feathers. I've had chicks just over 5 weeks old go through nights below freezing but they stayed under the heat. They did not enjoy it.

Then you have integration. That is a long complicated subject so follow those links. I've had a broody hen wean her chicks at three weeks (in warm weather) and leave those chicks to make their own way with the flock. They could manage but she integrated them and they had a lot of room. My brooder is in the coop so my chicks are basically raised with the flock. I generally turn them loose at 5 weeks and they do great. But I have over 2,000 square feet outside and a large coop. I don't know how much room you have or what it looks like so I don't know what the right way is for you to integrate. You never know what will happen with living animals so I can't tell you how successful you will be, but people do this kind of stuff all the time and usually successfully. Good luck!