My chicks are almost 5 weeks old and I want to let them out.

[AllenK RGV]

Unfortunately they can still squeeze through the chain link fence and get killed by the neighbors dogs. I hate this time when it is right to let them out to free range but they still need protection.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The only option I can come up with is to extend an apron about 18" high on the fence as well as flat on the ground using a finer mesh wire to stop them going through and under. How feasible that is for you depends on how big your area is.

 

[Brahma27]

Once you do that you can let them out, but make sure the temperature stays above 60 f

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I picked up cheap window screen on a roll. Sole purpose was to keep chicks in and works perfect for that application. Wrapped it around the base of kennel until the chicks are too large for fencing openings then roll back up for next year.

 

[Blooie]

Once you do that you can let them out, but make sure the temperature stays above 60 f

Worrying about charts and temperatures isn't something I even think about...much. I raise all my chicks outdoors in a wire brooder pen within the run. The temps here are still in the 20s, dropping into the teens at times, with high winds and heavy snows during springtime "chick season". One year we got our last snowfall in June. I don't even use a heat lamp to heat the entire brooder. They have a Mama Heating Pad cave in the brooder. Most of the time they aren't even in it - they just duck under if they get spooked, if they need a quick warm-up, or at night when the sun goes down. The rest of the time they are playing, eating, drinking, exploring, and watching the adults so they can learn to be chickens. By 3 weeks old they are mingling with the flock (under supervision) and when they're 4 weeks old they are fully integrated and the brooder pen comes completely out. They are free ranging with the adults as soon as they figure out that the run door leads to the great outdoors. If a two pound hen can take hers out even when there's still a little snow on the ground, then I guess mine can be out. They know where their heating pad is, and they either head right to it if they need a warmup or they snuggle together in the sun.

The only way I can see letting yours out to free range is any of the suggestions you've been given, all very good ones. As @Ridgerunner says, a lot depends on how much area you have to cover. This might be one of those rare instances when chicken wire can be your friend too, since you're just trying to keep chicks from escaping. Your other option is to put up a second enclosure within your fenced yard until they get a little bit bigger.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Once you do that you can let them out, but make sure the temperature stays above 60 f

We will see 60F again in December or Janurary I believe.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Worrying about charts and temperatures isn't something I even think about...much. I raise all my chicks outdoors in a wire brooder pen within the run. The temps here are still in the 20s, dropping into the teens at times, with high winds and heavy snows during springtime "chick season". One year we got our last snowfall in June. I don't even use a heat lamp to heat the entire brooder. They have a Mama Heating Pad cave in the brooder. Most of the time they aren't even in it - they just duck under if they get spooked, if they need a quick warm-up, or at night when the sun goes down. The rest of the time they are playing, eating, drinking, exploring, and watching the adults so they can learn to be chickens. By 3 weeks old they are mingling with the flock (under supervision) and when they're 4 weeks old they are fully integrated and the brooder pen comes completely out. They are free ranging with the adults as soon as they figure out that the run door leads to the great outdoors. If a two pound hen can take hers out even when there's still a little snow on the ground, then I guess mine can be out. They know where their heating pad is, and they either head right to it if they need a warmup or they snuggle together in the sun.

The only way I can see letting yours out to free range is any of the suggestions you've been given, all very good ones. As @Ridgerunner says, a lot depends on how much area you have to cover. This might be one of those rare instances when chicken wire can be your friend too, since you're just trying to keep chicks from escaping. Your other option is to put up a second enclosure within your fenced yard until they get a little bit bigger.

I really feel like they need to stay in the coop. The run is basically a 75foot x 100 foot enclosure with that 2x4 inch fencing and will only keep the dogs in, also 2 sides are chain link fencing. I think this is the last week they need confined but would dearly like to let them out.

I do like the wonderful suggestions of addinng a bottom mesh for the virds, but it isn;t practicle for me.