LEAVING MY YOUNG CHICKENS OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT?? (8 WEEKS OLD ) IS THIS OK? IN NEVADA SUMMERS

[MELISSASHENS]

WONDERING IF MY 8WK OLD 5 CHICKS AND 1 SAME AGE ROOSTER WILL BE OKAY DURING THE NIGHT OUTSIDE OR DO I CONTINUE TO TRANSPORT THEM FROM THE OUTSIDE DOG KENNEL TO THE RUBBERMAID BIN AT NIGHT STILL?? THEY ARE GROWING OUT OF THE BIN AND HOP OUT OF IT IF THE TOP IS OFF WHILE TRYING TO GATHER THEM ANY IDEAS AS TO HOW LONG TIL THEY ARE COOP READY?

 

[reddogmaster2]

I'M SURE THE NEVADA COYOTES AND OTHER PREDATORS WILL APPRECIATE YOU LEAVING THEM OUTSIDE AT NIGHT.

THE TIME TO HAVE A SECURE COOP & RUN SETUP IS BEFORE YOU GET CHICKENS. TIME TO GET THE COOP BUILT ASAP!

 

[DaisyG2317]

I'M SURE THE NEVADA COYOTES AND OTHER PREDATORS WILL APPRECIATE YOU LEAVING THEM OUTSIDE AT NIGHT.

THE TIME TO HAVE A SECURE COOP & RUN SETUP IS BEFORE YOU GET CHICKENS. TIME TO GET THE COOP BUILT ASAP!

I see what you did there

 

[MELISSASHENS]

YES THE COOP IS JUST ABOUT READY COMPLETING THE DOORS AND LATCHES TODAY I ALSO HAVE TO WORK AT MY JOB SO ITS TAKING A LITTLE TIME BUT I AM WATCHING FOR THE PRED'S WITH MY SECURITY CAM AND WE HAVE DOGS TOO THAT HAVE BECOME WATCHFUL OF THE FLOCK TOO. THEY BABYSIT THEM AROUND THE CLOCK

 

[bobbi-j]

If by “outside” you mean in a secure coop, they are more than ready. My chickens start out in the coop right away, in the spring in MN where it can sometimes get into the 20s at night. At 8 weeks, they should be mostly or fully feathered, so no heat needed. Chickens need plenty is space so they don’t develop bad habits such as bullying or feather picking.

 

[Mrs. K]

They are plenty old enough to be outside. Mine go out much earlier. You did a good job if they have been outside during the day. They are ready for the night too.

But the predator issue is real.

Mrs K