Moving 7 Weekers Outside?

[scgamecock]

Mine are in a brooder cage but outside on the porch.They only use the light at night.

 

[JenMT]

I would bring them in at night for a few nights and then watch to see if they know enough to go inside at dark on their own. They will eventually come around to going "in" at night.

As for whether or not my 7 week old girls go outside, they don't yet only because I AM not prepared yet. I know that they are old enough to be outside (and should be outside) but I haven't built
a run as of yet. I plan on adding an 8' x 10' or so run in the next 2 weeks. I don't trust my dogs, my cats or any of the other numerous wild predators around here to stay away from them. IMO, natural sunlight and being outdoors is detrimental to chicks development. Then again, I have never had chickens before so I have no idea what kind of predator instincts they have as chicks. Yours might do fine with the bigger girls as examples. Good luck

 

[silkiechicken]

I brood my chicks outside in a plywood brooder and run...last spring I had them running about the yard at 3 weeks old or so and took away their heat light at 6 weeks old. They were acclimated and did just fine when night temps were in the 30's and days in the 40's. However, I did have like a dozen chicks and they get pretty toasty in the sleeping area with only a 2 foot tall roof.

 

[Lolliegee]

I realized I wasn't clear about my one question...putting them in at night, I meant when you first move them outside....do you put them in the coop at night, so they wake up there in the morning? I of course, would shut them up at night as I always do with my older chickens.

Anybody else have experience with chicks and cats? That's really my biggest concern at this point for putting them outside.

 

[mylilchix]

I've put them out during the day and had no problems. they get really excited about their new bigger space!!

As for chickens and cats the only experience I have had is with our cat, Bear. The thing though is Bear is a VERY GOOD cat. During warmer weather he spends most of his time outside. When I call the dogs, he comes too. He's a hoot!! Our big chickens are in a secure outdoor run with bird netting, welded wire fencing, and chicken wire. He hasn't tried to get in with them, but patrols the area. He's gotten rid of all rodents that come around, and has stood up to the local fox on several occasions! (I think Bear thinks he's a dog). When Bear is in the house he's good with the chicks. He hasn't gotten near my Pekin pair in the living room. I have a brooder in the dining room, and he'll peek into the box but won't do anything else. If you are concerned about a house kitty and chicks put a screen over the brooder, so the cat can't get into it. Good luck! I hope all goes well.

Sonja

 

[pegasuschick]

Hi, just jumping in here.
I have my five week old chicks outside now, have been for a week and are fine during the day in the 40s and 50s. They are sheltered, roof overhead and three sides closed. They are fenced into this area that is about 12 X 24.
I have been putting them inside their chick house at night with a 250 watt bulb and they have been fine. They don't go in by themselves. Last night they wouldn't let me put them in and ran under the chick house where I couldn't reach them. It is 33 degrees out right now and I am afraid to go out and look. I hope they didn't freeze. I have about 15 four week old chicks in another chick house with a light and now I am afraid to let them out for fear that I won't be able to get them back in.
Is this typical of incubator chicks? They don't have the smarts to go back in the house at night even though they can see the light in there. What do the rest of you guys do?
Gina

 

[pegasuschick]

Well, this is an answer to my last post about chicks staying outside.
I bravely went outside when it was barely getting light this morning to check on those errant chicks and was pleasantly surprised to find them out running around the chick yard eating and drinking and saying hello to the new day.
So..........I am sure if you have four week old or older chicks that you want to put outside and have a heat lamp for them they will be OK. Mine are five weeks but are fully feathered and did fine at 33 degrees with no heat lamp. I am SO relieved!!!
Gina

 

[mylilchix]

That's awesome news!!!

I bet they just cuddled together and got all snuggly. They're probably hardier than we think.

Sonja

 

[pegasuschick]

Yes, I am sure we worry about them too much but I know they were probably sleeping better than I was worrying about them. Little dickens!!
These were Silver Penciled Wyandottes who are fairly good size already and one mixed bantam who is still quite small but has good feathers.
Gina

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I put mine out at 6 weeks this last time, simply because the weather was going wonky and I had the extra room (and I only had two of them to go out). I let them run around the yard that day, then put theminside the coop in the afternoon - so they could get used to it before the big girls came in.

They're fitting in well - they don't hang with the big girls, but the big girls run all over the yard - the two little ones stick close to the coop with BC, my 3 month old chickie who doesn't hang with the big girls either - I'm glad BC has someone to hang with, herself, now, she looked so lonely wandering by herslef (her choice).

I have hatched out chicks under broodies, and seen them out running arond in cold weather with mama - I think the babies are hardier than we want to think they are. Although, if raised inside, they do need to acclimate a bit before being plunged into really cold temps.

If there is more than one, however, and your coop is draft free and dry - they'll huddle up and be fine.

BC was pretty alone there, for awhile, and I worried about her. She was brooded here until she was 5 weeks old, then went home to her "Mama" then came back here a month ago or so, because her "Mama" got out of chickens, and asked if I wanted the spoiled one back. Heck yeah, I did

The poor girl was just confused about who her flock was, and intimidated by my girls who she'd never met before.

meri