How tough are chicks? Letting them outside..

[Ridgerunner]

The past few days it's been in the 70s and 80s during the day and they have been in the run, and in the henhouse at night with it in the mid-50s with access to the brooding plate. Starting tomorrow it will be in the low 60s during the day and low 50s/high 40s at night, and dropping.

What do they do now? Do they put themselves to bed when it gets dark or huddle in the run? If they put themselves to bed in the coop I don't see that you have a problem. If they huddle in the run put them to bed in the coop after it gets dark. They should catch on. The question is when. I've had some learn for all to go in after a day or two. I've had broods of around 20 where the last few took three weeks to learn that, even with the others going in.

Not all of mine walk up or down. Many of them fly. I find that what they want to do is much more important than what you think they can do. 3.5 week old chicks should be able to fly much better than many people think. Of course, if you have Silkies or other chicks that can't fly then that changes.

Or do you not give them that option? Do you put them in the coop before it gets dark and their instinct tells them to go to bed? In this case I'd wait until dark and see what they do. Base your actions on what you see instead of what you expect to see.

In any case I'd leave that brooder plate on. It won't hurt anything. They may not need it but if they do I'd want it available.

Good luck!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

My birds are outside in those temps at that age.

and while winter is approaching, they are growing, and putting on feathers in preparation.

I also have older bird to help teach new birds the ropes - but have experienced birds not much older than that huddled together overnight in the mid 40s sleeping - none the worse for wear - when the could walk less than a foot to an open door leading to a sheltered area with a heat lamp to provide whatever degree of warmth desired. After a few nights of that, I took down the heat lamp - they only went inside for wind blown rain.

 

[Tude]

Thanks everyone! They have been in the coop/run for about a week now, daytime temps in the 60s and 70s, night down to high 40s and low 50s. They seem to be doing great! They now know about inside and outside and have no trouble going up and down the ramp at will on and off during the day. The brooder plate remains on in the henhouse if they need it bit I have yet to see anyone use it during the day. At night they are all still sleeping under it, but when I let them out in the morning they are all up waiting for that door to open!

They will be 4 weeks old tomorrow, and it's amazing how much they have grown! I'd say they are 75% or more feathered? I do have to put them in the house at night still, but this week I'll start waiting until after dark and see if they start doing it themselves.

Everything is going well, except the 99.9% fact that my favorite and by far the friendliest, smartest and most loving chick is a rooster. I'm absolutely heartbroken but trying to not freak out. So much for the sex guarantee

 

[SamLockwood]

My six 3.5 week old chicks are now out in the coop/run, but the weather is just about to turn. The past few days it's been in the 70s and 80s during the day and they have been in the run, and in the henhouse at night with it in the mid-50s with access to the brooding plate. Starting tomorrow it will be in the low 60s during the day and low 50s/high 40s at night, and dropping.

Given their age, would you give them access to the run during the day even though they don't quite seem smart enough to go up the ramp to the heat in the henhouse or lock them inside? Should I just give them the option and hope they figure it out? They absolutely hate to be confined, and they like running around and paying in the run, but I worry about them getting too cold. But..winter is coming and they need to figure this all out! Thoughts?

When I got my batch of 30 chicks and guinea keets two years ago, I moved them to their coop at just over two weeks old because they were literally bursting out of their indoor brooder.

It was a 4x8 coop and about this time last year, so I put two of those big heat plates in there, and when the adults went free-ranging I even let them have run of the coop. Nights were probably a bit warmer than what you have, but even then after a couple days they all managed to find their way to the highest roosting bars in the coop, well away from the heat: I had thirty little puff-balls lined up on the rafters of the coop.

You've only got a few weeks before they'll be fully feathered anyway (and better able to withstand the cold than you in full winter gear!). I'd make sure they have heat available at night, and during they day wherever they go stays dry and is shielded from the wind. They should do OK.

 

[RcoM]

As well as all the tips, give them lots of protein. I fed mealworms 2 x a day and mine feathered up much quicker. They grew bigger and laid 2 months earlier too!