moving chicks outside

[gunnichick]

I have 18 3week old RIR, RIW and some black ones. The go outside in their run/coop for about 8-9 hours during the day. Our day time highs are in the 60s, but our sun is very hot...I live in Gunnison CO and our altitude is nearly 8000ft. I put a thermometer in their coop the other night and without chickens and without a heat lamp- the low was 23F. At what point are they good to spend the night together in their coop? We are buying a therma-cube that will turn the heat lamp on at 20F and off at 30F. Their coop is 4.5ft x 4.5ft and about 5ft tall (8 of the 18 are roosters and will most likely be food when they start crowing). How much heat will the 18 of them put off with the lamp in there? Can I put them out over night at 4 wks or do I need to wait longer? I still had the heat lamp on them last night in their brooder box inside, but I don't really think they need it....they still huddle together to sleep (away from the light though) Ideas?

 

[SymanSaysFarms]

We moved our girls outside at around 5 or 6 weeks but since it was early May in New England, we put a heat lamp in there for them. They did just fine and probably didn't need the lamp but the coop was large enough for them that I kept it out there just as an option for them. They had plenty of space to get away from the heat if they didn't want/need it. I've never had silkies, but I was suggest, if you have the room, just put the lamp out there for them and watch how they do. Raise the lamp up higher and higher to wean them off as they get bigger. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[1dude]

I'm near Pensacola FL and the nights have been getting down to about 55. My chicks were 3 1/2 weeks and I put them outside.
My coop is pretty much open air to deal with the heat. I did put a 75watt heat lamp above an egg box and they sleep under it at night.
I check on them at night and they are sleeping face down sound asleep at night. They seem happy as hell in the morning.

 

[RonC]

My PR's went out to the coop at 4 weeks back in the spring. Night time lows were in the low to mid fifties and they had no additional heat. They were raised inside and didn't want to be under a heat lamp at 3 weeks. Outside temps in the day were warmer (70-75F) than it was in the house. Ween them off the heat lamp before putting them outside and give them a draft free place to sleep and they shoud be fine. They tend to huddle together to sleep anyways and will keep each other warm.

 

[Vicky2479]

Well 3 nights ago I turned the heater off and they were fine, the next day they went out in their pen and when I came to bring them back in I discovered their brooder box was wet though, someone had knocked the watered over, so I decided that that was a good a night as any to leave them out, they were fine and still are, so that's that they are out for good. thank you all for your replies