How soon would you let them join the others outside?

[smileysjs1]

I just hatched two chicks two weeks ago. They are inside a rabbit cage in my house. I was wondering when I can let them be with my older pullets outside who are 12 and 17 weeks old?

 

[Bawkadoodledoo]

How cold is it outside? Do you have a separate area to keep the chicks in if a problem arises? actually, you should keep chicks under the heat lamp until they feather out, IE about 6 weeks.

 

[BeckyLa]

imho, since there is such a big age/size difference, I'd wait until they are nearly grown to the size of the outdoor birds to put them together. Besides, at 2 weeks, they are not nearly feathered enough to go outside this time of the year. However, once they are feathered, at 2-3 months, you could put them outside but separated from the larger/older birds.