Need advice on moving chicks to outside pen.

[TarheelBirdy]

My Swedish Flower Hen chicks will be three weeks old this weekend. I have had them in the house so far, with a heat lamp. I have been able to turn off the heat lamp in the day time the past few days.

I have an outdoor pen which is enclosed by a solid wall on two sides and has a sloping roof. It does have a heat lamp in it. The other two walls are chicken wire, and the floor is hardware cloth. I put straw in it for bedding.

The weather forecast for the next week is 60s-70s during the day and 50s at night. Is this too cold for them, even with the heat lamp?

 

[TheOutcast]

three weeks is kind of young to be outside but it wouldn't hurt to try, if they have a heat lamp and warm bedding. If they huddle under the heat lamp and shiver then move them back inside

 

[ButchGood]

Absolutely not to cold for them. 3 weeks old is the perfect time to go outdoors permanently IMO. I start taking mine out on day trips at 5 days old. At 2 weeks old they went to the coop. It was empty(NO Adults)with a lamp. They had to be taken out and put away at night. At week 3 no more heat lamp. lows in the 50's. At week 4 they had total control to come and go from yard to coop and vice versa. I still would have to round them up and put them up at night. at week 5 they come out at daybreak on their own and put themselves away at night.
The sooner you can acclimate them to the outside world the better. They are not as delicate as you may think. They'll be just fine.

 

[JulieNKC]

Absolutely not to cold for them. 3 weeks old is the perfect time to go outdoors permanently IMO. I start taking mine out on day trips at 5 days old. At 2 weeks old they went to the coop. It was empty(NO Adults)with a lamp. They had to be taken out and put away at night. At week 3 no more heat lamp. lows in the 50's. At week 4 they had total control to come and go from yard to coop and vice versa. I still would have to round them up and put them up at night. at week 5 they come out at daybreak on their own and put themselves away at night.
The sooner you can acclimate them to the outside world the better. They are not as delicate as you may think. They'll be just fine.

x2
I put mine out out 2 weeks old, no heat lamp but bring them back in if the temperature drops below mid 60's. By three weeks same thing but only brought in if below 60, 4 weeks below 60 for more than a few hours, by 6 weeks all chicks are outside full time and in the process of being integrated with everyone else.

 

[Lynzi777]

TarHeelBirdy - Where are you located? I am in Upstate, NY and was actually wondering the same thing. I have 3 chicks that will be 4wks 3 days, 4wks, and 3wks 3 days this weekend. They are running out of room in their brooder but are pretty much fully feathered. They have been without a heat lamp for 2 weeks now and they are growing like weeds! I don't have anything larger to keep them in so I'd have to either go out and buy something bigger or see if they last outside from here on out. They have been outside daily since I got them, but just for a little bit, no longer than an hour each day but not when it's been colder than 35-40 outside.

So I don't know, do I move them or keep them inside and find something bigger to house them in?

 

[CorinneP]

New yorks weather has been so unpredictable I wouldnt put them out that young with out a heat lamp if they were mine .

 

[CorinneP]

With your weather being 60 70 and having a heat lamp I would feel safe ... but not in New york I would wait a bit here .

 

[Lynzi777]

Thanks, looks like I need to find a bigger cage!

 

[ButchGood]

TarHeelBirdy - Where are you located? I am in Upstate, NY and was actually wondering the same thing. I have 3 chicks that will be 4wks 3 days, 4wks, and 3wks 3 days this weekend. They are running out of room in their brooder but are pretty much fully feathered. They have been without a heat lamp for 2 weeks now and they are growing like weeds! I don't have anything larger to keep them in so I'd have to either go out and buy something bigger or see if they last outside from here on out. They have been outside daily since I got them, but just for a little bit, no longer than an hour each day but not when it's been colder than 35-40 outside.

So I don't know, do I move them or keep them inside and find something bigger to house them in?

I would get them out as soon as possible. They need a coop and a run at 4 weeks old and should be on there way to playing with the big girls. I'm originally from Pennsylvania and 4 week olds were running all over our yard in march. They huddle together at night and keep nice and toasty in a good coop.

 

[KEAO]

I have this same question, but I am in Northern California. My 7 chicks are three weeks today and living in our dining room (only good electrical outlet in house, besides bedrooms).
The dust is pretty bad and I am hoping to get them out before 6 weeks, as they also seem like they will be too big for brooder really soon. I was thinking I would just keep them in coop for next couple of weeks (will just act as larger brooder) and have a light I could put in brooder. It seems like the consensus is that they are hardier than people give them credit for and that they would be okay......anyone think this is a BAD idea ? Thank you, new to this chicken thing this spring and love all the info on this site !!