New to meaties; when can they go outside?

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I have 6 Cornish Roasters from McMurray. They are almost 3 weeks old right now and already getting stinky for their age. Our highs are in the 90s and our lows are in the 60s. When can I move them into the coop? I know with layers it is usually around 5-6 weeks but I am hoping meaties can go out sooner.

Thanks!

 

[redsoxs]

With the overnight lows (where I live in KS) I'd put them out - might still keep a lamp where they could be near it if they needed it but with enough room to get away from it, too. Good luck to you!

 

[bigredfeather]

If the only part of them that is still yellow is their head, they can go out now with the temps you have.

 

[V-NH]

I put my most recent batch of Cornish X outside at two weeks old and the temperatures dropped into the 50s at night. I did not provide them with a heat lamp and the only shelter I gave them was a tarp over their pen. They are now 4 weeks old and I have had a 0% mortality rate. Cornish X are extremely hearty birds. Given how terrible they smell, I might put my next batch outside sooner as long as the temperatures cooperate.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I put mine out last night and they are all fine today. Stinkers weren't even snuggled up when I checked on them around midnight.

Very glad of that. I never thought a few chicks could stink that bad.

 

[mocluckin]

we are doing our first batch of meat chickens... have 50 (well actually 51) Freedom Ranger chickens... weather here has been very warm so I let them out of the brood box during the day at just over a week of age... put them in at night with the heat lamp, but switched to just a 60 watt bulb when the night temps stayed in the 70's. Now the door stays open all the time and most of them sleep outside, crashed out like a fuzzy carpet in front of the brood box. They are all feathering in nicely now and eating like crazy. They are in a 10'x20' enclosure with tarps over it for sun protection, will move to the pasture in another week I think. It's amazing how fast they grow!