How old before they can take a trip outside?

[elsathecat]

How old must chicks be before they can go outside (to visit, not live). I have three three-week old baby chicks and am wondering if they are too young for a quick trip outside. My concern is that they will eat something that is too hard for them to digest (like grass) at such a young age.

Thanks!

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

i let my 5 day olds out for 10 minutes the other day, they loved it... it was almost 80 degrees outside though... take them out for a few minutes if it's warm, and see how it goes.

 

[robbinsroost]

Hi No answer for question, I would like to know also!!!!

 

[Tala]

If they are outside on the ground they will naturally pick up sand (which we call grit) that they will use to digest the hard stuff, such as grass!

I'm a big fan of putting them out young --- I've got 2-3 week old chicks that have lived outside for at least a week!

 

[elsathecat]

Heh, I live in Seattle. It won't be warm for a while.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
It snowed in parts of Arkansas while I had 2 week old chicks outside

That's what 250watt heat lamps were designed for - you never really need that much heat in the house.

They do fine if they have an enclosed place with a lamp that they can go in if they get chilled.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I try to take my cues from mama hens - who will have their babies outside on like day two.

Of course, if it's cold, they need to be able to run to shelter, but they are definitely old enough to go outside.

If you can catch a day without rain (i was just checking your weather), i wouldn't hesitate to take them outside and see how they like it. They'll probably have a blast!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

Just keep an eye on them. If they start huddling close together (after they get over their nervousness about being outside) and start peeping loudly, you'll know they are getting chilled and ready to go back under their heat lamp.

 

[elsathecat]

Thanks guys! I am SO glad I found this site. I tried to do my homework before getting the chicks but questions like this keep coming up that I can't find an answer for in my book. I live in fairly urban area (urban for chicken-keeping at least) and there is nobody to talk to about the babies so I predict being on this site a lot.

 

[Esteri]

Ours moved outside full time at 4 1/2 weeks. We started by putting them in to a "chick play yard" complete with "chick warming hut" during the day starting at about 2 or 2 1/2 weeks. On non-rainy days. The first time - they didn't figure out the chick warming hut, and we looked outside at about dinner time to see a pile of fluff. Moved them back to the garage, and they warmed up quickly - and fell over dead asleep. Play yard visits are quite tiring!

The next time we chased them into the chick warming hut and kept them there for a few minutes, also put their feeder in there - as it was a windy day. After that they got the chick warming hut all figured out.

Needless to say they LOVED their trips to the play yard. They'd all flap and try out their wings when we first put them in. Eventually, the bolder ones started eying the door - as the larger world was far more interesting than their little play yard. (4' x 8')

We moved them outside full time about a week ago. Just in time for a series of late spring rain storms - last night included lightning, and hard rain. They're in a 10' x 10' PVC chicken tractor 1/2 covered with a tarp. They came through just fine. In fact, we got wetter than they did running out once or twice to check on them. Of course, we still have a heat lamp in with them as the nights are still averaging mid-40's. (We're in Northern CA.) I expect to remove the lamp in the next couple of weeks. I think this week was the last gasp of bad weather. I'll start cranking it up a little higher this week.

Honestly, I think they're tougher than we often give them credit for.

I'm considering letting them free range in another couple of weeks in our fenced pasture. We have a lot of tall grass for them to hide in from flying predators. And who knows - the llamas might give some protection. I dunno - I'm going to have to thing about it. Maybe they're still to little. But, all of them would certainly enjoy the freedom.