moving outside

[haunani]

Okay, round 1 chicks are moving outside in the next couple days, as round 2 chicks are arriving in a few days. My question is in relation to temps.

Forecast has us dropping into the lower 40s, upper 30s this week. The outside chicks will be about 7 weeks old and pretty much fully feathered. They've been inside with temps not dropping below 60. MHP had been turned down and they're not sleeping on/near it much anymore.

Do I need to do anything to help them acclimate outside?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not really. If they were four to five weeks old you could take them out for short excursions to expose them to cooler temps before you just left them out there. But at seven weeks there is no need to do that, they will handle those temperatures fine as long as the coop is well ventilated and offers rain and wind protection.

 

[haunani]

Thank you for easing my mind. They moved outside Sunday evening and so far are doing great. They need help figuring out the ladders to get up to the roost and in/out of the coop, but they're figuring it all out.