New chicken owners, need help with moving outdoors

[Bgerth89]

We got 4 baby chicks May 1st from Tractor Supply. They said they were about a week old so they should about 4 weeks now. We live in Southern California where it is mid 70s to mid 80s pretty consistently now with an occasional high 60s overcast day. The nights are mid 50s. Yesterday I put them outside in the sun for a couple hours in a toddler gate enclosure with a cover so hawks can't grab them. At what point can they go in the coop overnight? We are building their coop/run this weekend but not sure when they can move full time. Picture attached so you can see their feathers.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

We got 4 baby chicks May 1st from Tractor Supply. They said they were about a week old so they should about 4 weeks now. We live in Southern California where it is mid 70s to mid 80s pretty consistently now with an occasional high 60s overcast day. The nights are mid 50s. Yesterday I put them outside in the sun for a couple hours in a toddler gate enclosure with a cover so hawks can't grab them. At what point can they go in the coop overnight? We are building their coop/run this weekend but not sure when they can move full time. Picture attached so you can see their feathers.

With my first chicks I put them in the coop with a heat lamp at 4 weeks for about 4-7 days, then let them out in the run during the day and placed them in the coop each night and shut the door. They were fine, but the low was like 75. Good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Given your warm temperatures they can stay out now, if you've already weaned them off heat. If not, work on doing that in the upcoming week or so and then they can go out and stay out.

 

[Bgerth89]

I put them out about 11am and then they come in around 6pm with the heat lamp til about 11pm when I go to bed and the heat lamp is off until they come in again the next day. So I'll wean them off the evening heat lamp and move them out side next week some time. Let me know if that doesn't sound right.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not convinced the buff one with feathered legs and the black one are quite as old as the other two. Probably closer to three weeks than four weeks. Still, they are getting close. Your lows in the mid 50's is the critical temperature for overnight.

I put them out about 11am and then they come in around 6pm with the heat lamp til about 11pm when I go to bed and the heat lamp is off

If the heat lamp is off after 11:00 pm they don't need it before 11:00 pm. I don't see any reason to ever turn it on.

So I'll wean them off the evening heat lamp and move them out side next week some time. Let me know if that doesn't sound right.

If those two are as young as I think they are I'd wait until the middle of next week to put them out in the mid 50's. Any time Wednesday or later should be OK.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm not convinced the buff one with feathered legs and the black one are quite as old as the other two. Probably closer to three weeks than four weeks. Still, they are getting close. Your lows in the mid 50's is the critical temperature for overnight.

If those two are as young as I think they are I'd wait until the middle of next week to put them out in the mid 50's. Any time Wednesday or later should be OK.

Yeah I'm not 100% on the ages due to the feathering but then again I had a slow feathering bird last time that looked about a week and half behind the others as far as feathering in, and she weaned off heat along with the rest just fine at 4 weeks.

Doesn't hurt to draw out weaning them off heat if you feel that there's an age difference here. Ideally they should have feathers over most of their body by the time they come off heat. Head and neck generally feather in around 6, maybe 7 weeks.