Need advice on moving chicks to outside pen.

[TarheelBirdy]

So, I put them out yesterday evening, and they're doing great....they love it. Here are some pics I took today.

 

[hearts34]

oh yeah......lots of feathers on those birds. From everything I have read day 1 thru 5 is most critical because little peeps can't regulate body temp at all. After that each day is like a month when comared to the first five.
I baby mine just because I don't want to lose one. I am somewhat overprotective though. They are in their fourth week and I still keep them in a homemade brooder with a 60 watt bulb on them. But we have had unseasonbly cool weather for us the last couple weeks. One morning last week, 18th I believe, we had a low of 33. Mostly it's been lower 40s.

It's hot now though. 65 last night. So they are going out this weekend.

 

[lareynadenada]

KEAO,I am in Northern California as well, Lake County where are you???

 

[CorinneP]

Keao .. It really depends on your weather .. It isnt about being in doors or out doors . I have started some from chicks in a garage in the summer where it stayed warm with a lamp .. Of course you want to make sure they are safe and arent getting tons of winds and weather fluctuations . You just need to keep the tempatures constant . starting at aprox 95 degrees their first week of life and dropping five degrees pre week of life. In colder climates we try to make sure they are feathered before removing heat lamps if we know it may get cold .

 

[CorinneP]

they do look Happy TarheelBirdy !

 

[ButchGood]

They look great. Today Ill see if I can get you some picks of some 2 week RIR's and turkeys I put outside. They love it.That 95* and back off 5* each week stuff is malarkey IMHO. Keep them warm for sure, but throw that thermometer away. Ive found hey prefer it much cooler and they don't need it for 5 and 6 weeks. Keep it cooler and they feather faster, they don't get the pasty butt's, and they leave the brooder sooner.

 

[ButchGood]

Here they are. These guys will be 2 weeks old on Wednesday. I took the heat lamp out of the brooder that was in the house at day 5. They went outside yesterday at day 10. Last night when I checked on them at 11:00pm they were in a chick pile. No shivering, no distress peeps. Just a pile of content chicks. This morning they were up and about scratching, eating and drinking. The only way I'd bring them back inside was if there was rain coming in. None in the forecast for the next 10 days. Big girls were interested in them for about 20 min. now they're just part of the scenery. In 2 weeks the temporary fence will come down and we will see how they interact.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Just to chime in on what 'mom' does....
It was low 30s last nite in eastern PA. Now at noon is it about 55. our 3 week old chicks are out running around and resting on their own in a sheltered spot in the yard. Mama hen is keeping an eye on them but i don't see her worrying about keeping anyone warm anymore. If they are cold, they find a wind-free spot and fluff up together. The family has a 4x4 draftfree coop if they want it but twice now mama has taken them into the main coop with the flock and found a warm corner on the floor at night.
We let her decide what to do and where to take them. The chicks even dart around the flock stealing scratch and whatever else they can find. There are chainlink fences they can escape through if they feel threatened.
Gotta love watching babies.
I think the best thing we did with this batch is to totally isolate mama and babies in the small coop for the first week. They really bonded to her and listen when she speaks. It's something I want to continue: hatch them anywhere but after the hatch, place them in a small coop together for a week with no distractions. There have been no problems reintegrating into the flock at all.

 

[ButchGood]

Just to chime in on what 'mom' does....
It was low 30s last nite in eastern PA. Now at noon is it about 55. our 3 week old chicks are out running around and resting on their own in a sheltered spot in the yard. Mama hen is keeping an eye on them but i don't see her worrying about keeping anyone warm anymore. If they are cold, they find a wind-free spot and fluff up together. The family has a 4x4 draftfree coop if they want it but twice now mama has taken them into the main coop with the flock and found a warm corner on the floor at night.
We let her decide what to do and where to take them. The chicks even dart around the flock stealing scratch and whatever else they can find. There are chainlink fences they can escape through if they feel threatened.
Gotta love watching babies.
I think the best thing we did with this batch is to totally isolate mama and babies in the small coop for the first week. They really bonded to her and listen when she speaks. It's something I want to continue: hatch them anywhere but after the hatch, place them in a small coop together for a week with no distractions. There have been no problems reintegrating into the flock at all.

Thats what I used to do in Landenberg Pa. when I lived there. Let mama have some privacy with the chicks for the 1st 5 to 7 days. Then let Mama do what she feels is best. These hatchery chicks I have to play Mama. I try to get them outside and on their own as soon as possible. I dot really look at the temperatures. I look at the chicks. They will definatley let you know if they are unhappy. These "instructions" we get with these hatchery chicks, espeacially the heat requirements is way to much. Those poor little birds are getting cooked. Keep them as cool as possible but still stay comfortable.

 

[Lynzi777]

But what if there is no Mama Hen? I only three chicks I started out with 4 weeks ago. No other hens to guide them out there. Although the oldest, a BO mix, seems to take the "leader" role and the other two follow it around as if it is the mother hen, but really it's just a tad bit bigger than the other two.