Is it to soon to move chicks outside?

[Delight30]

I have 8 4wk old chicks and live in North Florida. Can I move my chicks outside? The will NOT be in our main coop, but in a tractor by themselves, until they are big enough to be introduced to our big girls. Our current nighttime temps are no cooler than 70 degrees now and daytime temps can go to 100. Can someone provide pro's and con's of doing so? We are very new to raising chickens and all my other chickens were not moved outside until they were fully feathered.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I think that they should be fine with those temperatures. They are old enough now that they are at least almost feathered, and they have each other to cuddle with too. Check on them and see how they do. 4 week olds need temperatures around 80*F.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I'd be a little concerned with 70 degree night temps. They may get chilled. I almost lost my 4wk olds when I moved them outside and they had heat lamps for at night. Not really sure what happened to them. The stress of meeting others that were a week older, or not eating, drinking or getting chilled at night, but I found them all droopy five days after the move and two were almost gone. Managed to bring them out of their sickness or stress and they are fine now. Just make sure they have an enclosed sleeping area and are going in it at night if you have no heat lamp. Avoid drafts! A couple of more weeks and they should be fine with those temps.

 

[ronott1]

I have 8 4wk old chicks and live in North Florida. Can I move my chicks outside? The will NOT be in our main coop, but in a tractor by themselves, until they are big enough to be introduced to our big girls. Our current nighttime temps are no cooler than 70 degrees now and daytime temps can go to 100. Can someone provide pro's and con's of doing so? We are very new to raising chickens and all my other chickens were not moved outside until they were fully feathered.

The night time low is a bit too low--they should be at 80 degrees now. If possible, you could get a 100 watt light bulb for them at night for two more weeks and then they will be fine.

 

[Delight30]

Thanks everyone.... I guess I will keep them inside for a couple more weeks, just to be on the safe side.