How old do chicks need to be before they go out for the night?

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have 6 pullets and they are flying all over in their cage all day.When can they go outside and stay? I bought them from tractor supply about three weeks ago. They are getting their cones(I think thats what they are called) I still have their hat light on. Can I turn it off now?

Where are you located/what is the average day/night temperature? Are your birds fully feathered? I know you said they were purchased three weeks ago, but sometimes chicks may hang around the store a while longer than expected so I don't want to assume these are three week old birds - were they tiny (ie day olds) when you got them or did they appear to have been there a week or more (I know when I worked the farm store a lot of people wanted the tiny fuzz butts and would overlook last weeks birds -so we might end up with a chick who was with us for a week or two)?

 

[tiggerpeggy2008]

I am located in lake wales fl. Now its about 60 at night, and day time from 70-80.Yes, they are feathered, flying around the cage. No they were not real tiny.They were yellow and now they are 4 white and 2 brown. We built a cage outside and let them run around for about thirty minutes and they had a blast. Scratching and flying.They are flying about 1 to 2 feet up.

 

[monamomma]

We just purchased 4 new chicks also and I am just as curious about when to take the little ones outside. We are in PA and the weather is a little iffy right now. Calling for 50's in the daytime and down to 30's at night. The chicks are approximately 1 week old and have feathers. They are quite active already but it is so thrilling to be able to reach in and hold them. We have a RIR rooster and 2 other grown RIR hens outside. The coop that we were given will be used for the new birds so that we can gradually introduce them. My question is pretty much the same...when do we take them outside? I am such a worry wart and don't want them escaping through the holes in the wires since they are still small and I'm pretty sure they would do just that. The gal where we purchased the chicks was very helpful but this is one important question I totally forgot to ask her...duh! Thanks for any suggestions!!

 

[LACI]

Mine are 4-5 weeks. Colors changed already.Eating like little pigs and scratching and scredding any paper I put in box.
I am new at this and have a few questions like can they go out doors? I am in Florida and it is in 60's. My 2nd qustion is when do my girls start to lay? I was told I need busted up oyster shells to make eggs hard is this correct. I was also told I need to move there pen ever 6 months so they have clean ground and new worms is all this right. Sorry for so many questions just wanna do this right.

 

[carlashelby]

When I first started raising chicks, my supplier (Ron the chicken man

)gave me a good rule of thumb. When they have all the feathers on their heads they don't need a lamp and can stay outside. Head feathers typically come in last. They start laying at approximately 20-22 weeks. Of course, if its warmer you might get away with putting them out a little sooner, but I'll have a lamp on in the coop at night for mine.

 

[suzy5033]

I have 5 big hens and 8 chicks almost 5 weeks old. I plan to put them in the big run with the hens at 8 weeks and section an area off for the chicks during the day for a while but I have no idea how im going to get the chicks in the coop with the big hens. Its not possible to devide the coop. I have 14 nesting boxes but how do I even get the chicks used to going in the coop and will the big hens be nice to them inside? I lock the hens in at night. Any suggestions?

 

[Jackschicks]

I have 5 big hens and 8 chicks almost 5 weeks old. I plan to put them in the big run with the hens at 8 weeks and section an area off for the chicks during the day for a while but I have no idea how im going to get the chicks in the coop with the big hens. Its not possible to devide the coop. I have 14 nesting boxes but how do I even get the chicks used to going in the coop and will the big hens be nice to them inside? I lock the hens in at night. Any suggestions?



I don't think you can put the chicks in with the big hens. How will you feed them separately? My understanding is that the calcium in the the laying feed causes kidney damage in the babies. I think the chick food (starter/grower) has more protein than the laying mix does. I'm a newbie too, so I would like to see what some of the more experienced folks have to say.................

 

[ccook06]

We just purchased 4 new chicks also and I am just as curious about when to take the little ones outside. We are in PA and the weather is a little iffy right now. Calling for 50's in the daytime and down to 30's at night. The chicks are approximately 1 week old and have feathers. They are quite active already but it is so thrilling to be able to reach in and hold them. We have a RIR rooster and 2 other grown RIR hens outside. The coop that we were given will be used for the new birds so that we can gradually introduce them. My question is pretty much the same...when do we take them outside? I am such a worry wart and don't want them escaping through the holes in the wires since they are still small and I'm pretty sure they would do just that. The gal where we purchased the chicks was very helpful but this is one important question I totally forgot to ask her...duh! Thanks for any suggestions!!

I live in Montana and this time of year the weather can do some crazy stuff! We're having a very mild spring and getting days in the upper 60's and even 70's but then the temp drops to the low 30's at night. I moved my chicks out to the coop at about 3-4 weeks old - mostly due to them outgrowing the brooder and flying all over the spare bedroom lol. My coop is insulated and has a heat lamp. During the day I let them out to run around their yard (cooler days I leave the lamp on in the coop in case they need to go in and warm up) and I lock them in at night with their lamp on. Watching them throughout the day they seem happy being outside until the temp drops below 50 or gets windy/rainy. Then then tend to only go outside for short periods of time.

And they will slip through any opening they can! We thought we had the chicken's yard fully enclosed. I went out to check on them one afternoon and one was hanging out in the duck's yard. After investigating I found the gate dividing the two areas had just enough room under one end for a small chicky to squeeze through.