my chicks are going to escape the brooder... can they live outside???

[marshmallowpeeps]

I have 10 BO chicks that are 4 wks old. They live in a dog pen in the house, but have been outside during the day in a small fenced in area (lined w/ chicken wire), whenever it's warm enough. They LOVE being outside, and hate coming in, but today they let me know they've had enough.

As soon as I brought them in, the little Roo tried to escape. He almost made it 4 times! The dog pen has a floor, sides, and top that are like regular fencing. I have covered the sides with cardboard, but he flies up to the top, grabs on and squeezes through. Now I have covered the top with a towel and I hope it will hold him for the night, cause if he makes it out, he won't make it past the dog and cat!!

What I want to do is move them out into a dog house inside the fenced area. It's a fairly large dog house, solid 4 walls and roof with a hole to go into it. It's plenty big enough. If I were to fill it with straw, would they be warm enough in it? The nights here are supposed to be in the mid 50's for a while. There's no way I can use the heat lamp on them in the doghouse. Please tell me this will work or help me know what to do!!!
Thanks!

 

[marshmallowpeeps]

bumping

 

[chickenpearl]

Are these chicks completely feathered out? At four weeks, they are supposed to be able to keep their own body temps fairly stable. 50's seems a little chilly, but I totally understand--I hated having to keep moving mine in and out all the time (because the chicks really didn't like it!). At about 4.5 weeks, I finally let mine stay outside, but it was in the mid 60's at night here. I figure they will still huddle up in the coop at night.

I'm not sure what the right answer is, exactly, but if it warms up even a little, I think it will be warm enough for them if it's not already. It probably is warm enough in the coop, because it will be warmer than the outside air, and the chicks will keep each other warm, too. As long as it's safe from predators.

I hope someone else chimes in--I still worry about my chicks, too!

 

[marshmallowpeeps]

Thanks Chickenpearl for responding!

9 of them have pretty much all their feathers. The other is a second roo, he's good sized but hasn't got as many feathers yet.

I plan to have them in the doghouse for the night, and cover the entrance to keep out drafts. Sound OK?

 

[pbjmaker]

I think they will be fine since there is enough of them to huddle up and keep each other warm.

 

[Sissy]

I have 3 fuzzy butts and they have been staying out all night in an enclosed fenced area with their Mama who covers
them as soon as it gets dark and they stay that way until 5 in the a.m. they have been out for about 3-4 weeks.
even with all the rain they stayed under the tarp.
I believe our temp went to 65 last night.

 

[chickenpearl]

Marshmallowpeeps,
How are your chicks? I had mine outside last night again, and it got down to at least 60 degrees. And I remembered late yesterday that chicks are actually able to self-regulate temps at about 2 weeks, so by 4 weeks, they are pretty independent. Mine always seem so happy to be outside!
Hope all is well!

 

[aussieheelr]

If you can run a drop-cord out to them to give them the option of a heat lamp I should think they'd be fine. I put mine out at 3 weeks in the coop which is 8x8 and had a heat lamp they could get under. It was in the 50s at night and high 80s durring the day. Heat lamp was only on at night but they did wonderfull, but from the pictures I've seen my fuzz butts seem to be growing faster then most.