Need advice...going outside for the first time?

[tyjaco]

so...how did it go?

 

[twinzmom]

we will be taking them out tomorrow, I'll leet you know how I do...

 

[ketcham]

I just got mine so they are quite young....It was mid 70's here today so I put them in the chicken tractor...They are all wiped out and sleeping now..I put a board on top to keep the sun off them...food and water of course...They were out for about 6 hours...Warmer outside than in the basement[I do have lamps on them]..Kevin can't wait till they grow a little bigger!!!

 

[twinzmom]

Sooo my girls loved being outside today! They were out for about 1 and a half hours. It was quite funny getting them out there though, my husband started putting them in their holding box that we use when we clean out their brooder and as he put one in the box and went for another the one in the box would jump back out. Finally after lots of laughter from him and I they all got outside in the small coop run. At first they weren't too sure about it but after a short time they were very happy just clucking around, scratching and checking it all out. Thanks again to everyone for their advice. I can't wait until they can be outside all the time, my babies are growing so fast!

 

[Apyl]

My chicks are 3 weeks old tomorrow and they LOVE being outside. I moved them to the outside coop last weekend and I am so glad I did. They are just so much more happier outside. During the day I open the door to the coop and they spend the entire day outside. Then at about 6:30ish I close them back up in the coop. I love watching them. they jump, run, and flap around. They are also finally getting brave enough to check out more of the run, but they dont go to far from the coop door lol. I do turn on their heat lamp at night though since the lows get in the 50's.

 

[chicken fever]

So I have 15 6wk old assorted chicks. When would be safe to put them with my adult flock?

 

[gdplum]

I would not do that to my 6 week old chicks...certain injury. Grown hens can pack a wallop with their hard beaks...they should be at least 12 weeks before introducing them to adult flock. Place them where they can associate with the hens...through a fence. When they sufficiently old, they will know the flock. There will be lots of picking on the chicks by the hens when you put them together.

 

[hennyandpenny]

i let my chicks out sometime back when it was about 45-50 some digree temperture the chicks loved it and whwen they got cold or tired they just layed down or in a group and when they did that i brought them in and made sure theey had food and water

 

[fultzie]

its been in the 80s here ..unusually warm for march ..breaking records and all..hoping to get the new hen house built soon..there almost 5 weeks old ..poor girls stuck in that tub..cant wait to see them zoom around the yard ..your storys are so inspiring..

 

[aoxa]

So I have 15 6wk old assorted chicks. When would be safe to put them with my adult flock?

I integrate them without a problem at 8 weeks old. They are big enough to defend themselves, and fast enough to get away.