How old do the chicks need to be before putting them outside?

[Crazyhenlady]

I have a coop and chickens already but I'm wanting to raise chicks. How long can they stay in a brooder? When "don't" they need heat anymore? I'm in Washington.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I brood outside in the garage or right in the barn, so our chicks are outside from day one. We just don't care for the dust and smells in house.

Anyway, they can go outside at hatch, if you can provide them the adequate environment. If you wish to put them out in the coop with ambient air temps, it is best to do so at 6-7 weeks, when they no longer need supplemental heat. They'll be all feathered out.

 

[CupOJoe42]

When they are fully feathered ~8 weeks. The important thing is a dry and draft free environment. If the outdoor temps are 60's - 70's, they can probably go out sooner. Some chicks feather out around 5-6 weeks, depending on the brooder environment. Chickens handle cold a lot better than they handle heat. They are pretty sturdy little things! Too cold, they huddle together. Too hot, they pant. Just right, they spread out and run around like little nuts.

 

[jeepguy982001]

i put mine outside at about 8 wks when we had a few warm days 40-50's they been fine eversince even a few days in the single digits. Heck they go outside even when my full grown hen won't leave the coup because its cold.

 

[Oakieridge]

We have started putting ours out at 6 weeks with a heat lamp in the coop secured with two wires tying it to the top of the coop so they can't knock it down. That way if it is a cool night they can get close enough to get some warmth. I probably baby them to much but I don't want them to get to cold and it may get cold here again next week. I have a batch of 15 that will be going out to the "big kid coop" tomorrow they are right at 6 weeks now.

 

[ThaiChick]

I've heard that you can't mix chicks with full grown birds. Is this true? Will the older birds hurt/kill them?

 

[jeepguy982001]

i've heard they can so when i put mine outside i kept them seperated till they were about the same size.

 

[Akpheng]

I keep 8 shamo chicks that are about 6 weeks old with my 7 hens and my big thai rooster. The hens peck at them from time to time but its nothing serious. Ththey should be fine.

 

[BlueCamas]

I popped my 7 week old Bantam Barnevelder chicks (and a silkie) in the coop for the first time a couple days ago. Everyone is doing dandy and getting along with my other birds. I'm in Oregon and it's been in the 40's and 50's. In my opinion, it depends on the breed and the weather.

 

[MsPiggy]

Realizing this thread is a couple years old, yes, the big established chickens will kill the small chicks/pullets. We put a chicken wire fence between the older & young ones until they get used to seeing each other (we have a temporary coop for the young ones). On merge day (usually at night), we put them in the coop & then make sure they are not being attacked next morning & they know how to get down into the run.