Need advice on moving chicks to outside pen.

[bairo]

about the same as julienkc above.

Mine go out at three weeks old if the lowest temp is expected to be 60 or above (heat lamp is on as a back up still)
I turn off the lamp only when the lowest temp is expected to be 65 or above and only if they have reached 4 weeks old or better.

 

[Lynzi777]

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.

Even in 40 degree weather? I'm hoping all weather after this weekend should be warmer and not get to much colder. We are going into May for cryin out loud. Maybe I'll work with them a little this weekend and get them outside most of the day and see if they ever take a break to go huddle and rest, like they're known to do throughout the day. They should be used to cooler temp just because like I said I only kept that heat lamp on them for so long. It's pretty cool in my house this morning and I refuse to turn on my heat! LOL They're doing just fine.

 

[ButchGood]

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 !!

Its a great idea, I made that move at 2 weeks old. Go to the old timers 10 to 20+ years thread. Read through those pages. Tons of info for the newby. Beginning of the thread is a little slow but there's hundreds of pages to fish through. I raised chickens in Pennsylvania for 11 years. I'm building a new flock after a long long time without here in Texas. The best thing Ive learned about chicks is that they're not that fragile. The quicker you can get them outside and and on their own the better. They are happier and healthier scratching around in the dirt and grass. The biggest thing is to protect them from predators. That is were they are most vulnerable. As long as they have a good safe place and a draft free coop with no adult chickens, 2 weeks is a good age. Of course if its below freezing and just dangerous for any living thing, you will need to lock them up in the coop with the heat lamp on. Do Not wait for them to turn 6 weeks old. This is unhealthy for you and the chicks in the house. Watch the chicks, they will tell you if they are unhappy. Listen for loud distress peeps, watch to see if they are shivering in a pile and peeping loudly that's bad. If they are in a chick pile with normal calming peeps that's good.

 

[ButchGood]

about the same as julienkc above.

Mine go out at three weeks old if the lowest temp is expected to be 60 or above (heat lamp is on as a back up still)
I turn off the lamp only when the lowest temp is expected to be 65 or above and only if they have reached 4 weeks old or better.

Mine go out 2 to 3 weeks old if the lows are in the 40's with heat lamp back up.. I turn the heat lamp off for 2 & 3 week olds when the lows are in the 50's. Have not lost any yet. Happy, healthy chickens.
This little guy was 2 and a half weeks old living out doors last month. Hunting bugs and scratching dirt. Gotta love them. There were 16 of them. They are now 6 weeks old.

 

[Lynzi777]

That one looks just like mine! I only have 3 as I am new to the chicken hobby. So if I put them outside, they have no others to huddle up with to keep warm other than themselves. But they are pretty feathered.

This is my BO mix chick up on my work chair. LOL He/she will be 4wks old this weekend.

 

[ButchGood]

Look at that little bugger. See, its nearly fully feathered. Just the head and butt with a little fuzz. This chick will be just fine outside even in cooler weather.
I have Buff Orps and Australorps and I love them. They are so freindly and happy to see me when I get home.

 

[susannalee]

So glad to see this thread! I was just wondering what to do. thanks!

 

[Daisy8s]

This is my second batch of chicks. A year ago, with my first batch, I followed all the "rules" about starting at 95 degrees and only dropping the heat 5 degrees every week. They didn't even see the outside until they were nearly two months old.

This year, having read lots more from old timers, I had the heat lamp completely turned off by their fifth day of life (since they were inside the house which is kept around 72 degrees). They went out to the coop at 2 weeks old. I turn the heat lamp on at night only if it's going to be in the 30s. They're bedded in deep straw and in their own section of the coop that houses the full-grown chickens so they get some of those birds' body heat.

After comparing the notes I kept last time and this time I see that this batch feathered much more quickly and is MUCH more energetic. The first bunch was quite lethargic in a way that I now recognize my older hens get during the extreme heat of summer when they are miserable. I think I nearly cooked my first bunch with that 95 degree nonsense. After all....could any broody hen keep her chicks at 95 degrees?

So, my advice is to get them outside with access to dirt and grass as quickly as possible. Watch them closely at first and check again if there's any big drop in temps. They'll show you if they're cold (piling up and calling distress peeps).

Trust yourself to be able to observe your chicks and make adjustments according to how they act.

 

[ButchGood]

This is my second batch of chicks. A year ago, with my first batch, I followed all the "rules" about starting at 95 degrees and only dropping the heat 5 degrees every week. They didn't even see the outside until they were nearly two months old.

This year, having read lots more from old timers, I had the heat lamp completely turned off by their fifth day of life (since they were inside the house which is kept around 72 degrees). They went out to the coop at 2 weeks old. I turn the heat lamp on at night only if it's going to be in the 30s. They're bedded in deep straw and in their own section of the coop that houses the full-grown chickens so they get some of those birds' body heat.

After comparing the notes I kept last time and this time I see that this batch feathered much more quickly and is MUCH more energetic. The first bunch was quite lethargic in a way that I now recognize my older hens get during the extreme heat of summer when they are miserable. I think I nearly cooked my first bunch with that 95 degree nonsense. After all....could any broody hen keep her chicks at 95 degrees?

So, my advice is to get them outside with access to dirt and grass as quickly as possible. Watch them closely at first and check again if there's any big drop in temps. They'll show you if they're cold (piling up and calling distress peeps).

Trust yourself to be able to observe your chicks and make adjustments according to how they act.

I'll cosign for all that.

 

[Lynzi777]

This year, having read lots more from old timers, I had the heat lamp completely turned off by their fifth day of life (since they were inside the house which is kept around 72 degrees).
I think I nearly cooked my first bunch with that 95 degree nonsense. After all....could any broody hen keep her chicks at 95 degrees?

Thats exactly how I felt a couple of weeks ago and I am brand new to this chick and heat lamp thing. I would turn that thing on and my chicks would pant! LOL So I was like Ok, thats enough of that thing, I'm turning it off! Thank god that lamp was cheap cuz I used it maybe 5 days total!