Is it ok for young chicks to go outside in the summer time?

[jjb1953]

Hi all.
I have 6 two and a half weeks old chicks.
Right now they are in a brooder box in a spare room in the house. The room gets quite hot in the summer.
Yesterday it was nearing 100. I put a fan in the window to bring the temp down some.
It has been in the 80s and 90s during the day where I live.
Is it ok to let these young chicks outside for a while during the day time (and bring them in at night)?

Thanks

Jen

 

[starfliker]

Yes it is I would bring my chicks out and theyd love it but i would watch them to make sure nothing happens

 

[lizm1221]

I would let them out! Do you have a large wire dog crate or something you could put them in to keep them safe? Or do you have some scrap lumber and chicken wire? Maybe you could build a small, portable run for them? It's so hot out, I'm sure they would enjoy some cool breezes and shade. We have some 6 day old chicks with their momma hen and she has them outside pretty much all day long

 

[showjumper_girl2002]

I line in Florida so summer can get pretty warm and I took mine out everyday and they love it! When they are really young I would only take them out for short periods of time and the older they got the longer I would let them play. I always sit with them to supervise though so nothing happens and they don't get snatched up by a hawk or any other critter.

 

[azygous]

Babies can and should go out when it's nice and warm. But a few cautions.

They'll need both sun and shade so they can regulate their body temps. A small shelter like a pet carrier is advisable for when they need to snuggle for a nap and warmth. And, if there are older chickens around, make very certain that they can't get their tiny heads through the mesh of the pen sides, if you're placing them in a pen. I had a chick get scalped by a rooster because I didn't think of this danger.

 

[jjb1953]

This is what we have for them so far:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/791591/converting-old-coop-into-a-chicken-tractor
Scroll down to the last set of pics.
It is an old coop we converted into a tractor. The tractor is very secure. We bolted up the older doors on the side and in the back. The only opening now is the new door which has three latches on it.

This week we plan on making a run for them that will attach to the tractor.
I did go ahead and put them out. It is about 84 or so in the shade but there is a breeze. They same happy.

Thanks for your replies.

Jen

 

[jjb1953]

Thanks,
I did transport them in a cat carrier which I left right in the tractor.