Moving chicks out

[txjackrabbit2017]

I have 45 chicks that are too big for my brooder, they are two and a half weeks old I moved them to a small coop on my back porch. It is about the size of a child's playpen. They are now too big for that. Can I put them out side in a small covered pen. I live in South East Texas and the temp has been around 70 during the day and 56 at night.

 

[Coenthecoopcrafter]

Im nowhere close as experienced as some of the folks on here, so you should probably look it up for yourself or wait for someone more knowledgeable than be to answer, but from what I have read, two and a half weeks is too young for them to be outside in 56. from what ive seen, they need to be over 80 degrees at all times for the first few weeks. Ive seen a video online where someone used one of those big boxes they put watermelons and cantaloupes and such in at supermarkets. Maybe go to your local one and ask if they have any left over? all you have to do is put some kind of tarp on the bottom, and it should work well for a brooder. I dont know what you will do when they grow them out more, because with that many chicks, you might have to make or buy something industrial size!

 

[txjackrabbit2017]

Im nowhere close as experienced as some of the folks on here, so you should probably look it up for yourself or wait for someone more knowledgeable than be to answer, but from what I have read, two and a half weeks is too young for them to be outside in 56. from what ive seen, they need to be over 80 degrees at all times for the first few weeks. Ive seen a video online where someone used one of those big boxes they put watermelons and cantaloupes and such in at supermarkets. Maybe go to your local one and ask if they have any left over? all you have to do is put some kind of tarp on the bottom, and it should work well for a brooder. I dont know what you will do when they grow them out more, because with that many chicks, you might have to make or buy something industrial size!

I already have a ten ft brooder out side just never had to use it. This set of chicks are just growing exceptionally fast

 

[Coenthecoopcrafter]

Thats good news! means you are feeding them and taking care of them well! As I said, 56 is definitely too cold for chicks that young, so you may have to use the ten foot brooder.