Moving outside (Temperate climate)

[MatthewMChickens]

Hi everyone,

Most things I read about moving chicks outside to the coop are in cold environments.
I live in Sydney, Australia however and the coldest it will get in winter during night is 46 f.
This week the chicks will be five weeks old. The hottest it will get outside will be 73f and the coldest at night will be 51f.

Do you think its okay to keep the chicks outside in the run during the day and take them back into the brooder when it gets dark?


Thanks
Matt

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

The chicks should be fine outside with those warm temperatures, as long as you check on them before bed, and when you wake up to check water and food status

 

[MatthewMChickens]

Thanks! Will they need food and water inside the actual coop as they transition? Is it okay to just put them to bed in their coop tonight as its a bit different from the constant light source they normally have had?

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

Thanks! Will they need food and water inside the actual coop as they transition? Is it okay to just put them to bed in their coop tonight as its a bit different from the constant light source they normally have had?

It’s fine if the chicks are in the coop for the night. How old are the chicks? I think the older the chicks the better they will do outside. Yes you can put the food and water in the coop for now, but chicks tend to spill the food and water which makes the coop gross, so when the chicks get a little older you may wanna put the food and water outside

 

[rosemarythyme]

At 5 weeks they're old enough to move outside permanently at those temperatures, provided you've already weaned them off heat.

They will be upset the first night if they're used to have a light on 24/7... just have to ignore their upset cries at night and walk off.

Once my chicks move into the coop they no longer have access to food or water, as they won't be eating or drinking in the dark anyhow.

 

[MatthewMChickens]

Alright, I will start to turn down the heat lamp now then. Thanks for your help . Also, I have one more question - after there day in the run (on grass) their waste looked like this. Is this a problem? Do they need more grit?

https://imgur.com/a/rDqo3A6

.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Alright, I will start to turn down the heat lamp now then. Thanks for your help . Also, I have one more question - after there day in the run (on grass) their waste looked like this. Is this a problem? Do they need more grit?

https://imgur.com/a/rDqo3A6

.

Have they regularly had access to grit? Have you seen them ingesting it?

 

[MatthewMChickens]

I've seen them eat dirt before. I don't give them access to grit on the advice of this thread. Do I need to?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've seen them eat dirt before. I don't give them access to grit on the advice of this thread. Do I need to?

Depends on your dirt composition. If you have rocky soil or gravel that's always available to them, they'll get grit from picking it out of the soil.

If you don't have rocky soil (or it gets covered by snow in winter), yes you should provide grit as they cannot get it out of the environment.

I don't take any chances, I always have grit on hand and I start chicks immediately on grit as well, as I know they'll eat their bedding, for example.

 

[MatthewMChickens]

Thank you - do they need a grit high in calcium or will that cause negative effects at their age (5 weeks)

(This should be my last question... sorry for asking so much!)