I moved them outside at 2 weeks. Yay or nay?

[GoldenGirlsChicks]

I got my baby chicks 2 weeks ago. We had them inside in a brooder box from tractor supply. They seem to grow quick and were really getting cramped in the box. Today we used our Great Dane’s old dog cage and put it outside. We wrapped it with tarp and put the brooder lamp inside and lined the bottom with pine shavings and put some tree limbs inside to entertain them. We live in central Texas. It’s been in the upper 70’s during the day and 50’s at nite. Will they be ok? Did I move them outside too soon?

 

[KyCoop]

Ughhhh are you saying they are in a dog kennel outside with a tarp and that's it? No coop , no run?

 

[Huntmaster]

I got my baby chicks 2 weeks ago. We had them inside in a brooder box from tractor supply. They seem to grow quick and were really getting cramped in the box. Today we used our Great Dane’s old dog cage and put it outside. We wrapped it with tarp and put the brooder lamp inside and lined the bottom with pine shavings and put some tree limbs inside to entertain them. We live in central Texas. It’s been in the upper 70’s during the day and 50’s at nite. Will they be ok? Did I move them outside too soon?

At those temps and as long as they are out of wind/drafts kept dry. And have an age/feather appropriate warm spot large enough for all to warm/sleep under with your brooder lamp, they should be fine temperature wise.

 

[GoldenGirlsChicks]

Yes. The brooder box was just too small for them. So they are in the dog cage. Same setup as the brooder box inside. We just moved them outside and gave them a bigger box basically. We don’t yet have a coop for them and they seem to be too small still to just run around the yard.

 

[GoldenGirlsChicks]

I usually wake up once during the nite for a bathroom break. I will go outside and check on them. If they are all huddled up on each other I will assume they are too cold. If they are keeping to themselves I’ll assume they are ok temperature wise.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Is this a wire dog kennel? Chicks are predator magnets and a wire dog cage and tarps will not keep a weasel or a raccoon's hands out.

 

[Huntmaster]

Is this a wire dog kennel? Chicks are predator magnets and a wire dog cage and tarps will not keep a weasel or a raccoon's hands out.

We don’t yet have a coop for them and they seem to be too small still to just run around the yard.

As stated not predator proof, and too young for any type of unsupervised free ranging. Shorter supervised trips at those temps would be ok but they will still need to frequent heat source to warm up. Sorry to say it but even your neighbor's cat would love to see them roaming the yard and also able to reach in wire cage. You could wrap cage with hardware cloth to get you by for a short time. But like you said they grow quickly and will need more space and better protection. Controlling their temps has much easier solutions than predator proofing does. How many chicks do you have?

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Oh my gosh, no I think you should move them back! Not to rude at all!
It isn’t keeping them safe from predators, it does not keep it safe from predators like raccoons with there hands! Not to mention they should still be in 85 degree heat right now at 2 weeks of age.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Not to mention they should still be in 85 degree heat right now at 2 weeks of age.

Temperature should not be a big issue since they have a heat lamp in there.

 

[Yard Farmer]

I got my baby chicks 2 weeks ago. We had them inside in a brooder box from tractor supply. They seem to grow quick and were really getting cramped in the box. Today we used our Great Dane’s old dog cage and put it outside. We wrapped it with tarp and put the brooder lamp inside and lined the bottom with pine shavings and put some tree limbs inside to entertain them. We live in central Texas. It’s been in the upper 70’s during the day and 50’s at nite. Will they be ok? Did I move them outside too soon?

That should be fine.
You just need to monitor them to make sure they're staying warm enough, I think. But, your temps will most likely be fine for your chicks.
I did the same thing my dog kennel. I wrapped it in chicken wire and my birds have been quite safe. Just make sure they don't sleep next to the wire; that could be an easy ticket for a predator.