I got 24 four-day-old chicks and I left them outside yesterday. They are doing great. The temp in Seattle was 52 F at night. I left with them 125W heating lamp.
Thats great. I don't know why people say they're so fragile. I don't even have a heat lamp. My 3 mo. old pullets sits on em all at night (theres 11). They don't even come inside anymore. I think chicks are so hardy. They mean little buttheads too!
Chicks do need proper heating at such a young age. People are always saying well, they would be outside without a heat lamp at all if a hen was raising them...yeah and that's because they would be under the hen where it's the proper temperatures for them. I would have had my brooder outside if my coop had been done in time but I still would have a heat lamp if there's no momma for them to cuddle under.