older chicks/pullets going outside

[kellyrc09]

Bigger pullets looking about 5 weeks; very scraggly. Coop and run now complete! Thinking of doing a trial run with birds closed in coop tonight. Low is 69*. Thoughts?

 

[Rowsdower]

Go for it. You can thank me later.

 

[PapaChaz]

Go for it. You can thank me later.

totally agree.........on both counts, LOL


my dear wife was TOTALLY happy the day the chicks were moved from the kitchen to the newly finished coop.

 

[kellyrc09]

thanks!! they seem so much happier chasing bugs!!

 

[vweers]

I just put ours in. They have only been roosting since I put them in. Should I just let thm and when they get hungry they will get down? I wish I had thought twice before getting this particular coop. So not convienent for where we had to put it.

 

[PapaChaz]

I just put ours in. They have only been roosting since I put them in. Should I just let thm and when they get hungry they will get down? I wish I had thought twice before getting this particular coop. So not convienent for where we had to put it.

ok you just put them out there? Chickens have their own little world. You do anything to CHANGE that, and they make you pay for it, LOL. They do NOT particularly like "change" and it may take them a little while to adapt. But you can take it to the bank, sooner rather than later, their natural curiosity WILL get them down and looking around

 

[monkcat]

At what age would you put them outside? I see 4-5 weeks for some, but what about days old - maybe a week? If no mama, and an open air coop?

 

[Blooie]

At what age would you put them outside? I see 4-5 weeks for some, but what about days old - maybe a week? If no mama, and an open air coop?

Unless you can guarantee no predators and can provide them with an enclosed space, days old would be out of the question - at least for me - and I am someone who normally does put them out right away. But mine are in a secure pen within the run, and the run itself is secured with hardware cloth at the bottom with an apron, double closures, and wrapped in plastic against the elements. I certainly can't tell you what to do. If you had a closed coop and had a prepared place for them, it might be different. But with an open air setup, I don't see how you'd hold in the heat for them, and how you'd totally protect against predators. Doesn't take much to get the little guys.


This is my setup - chick pen on the left.


The babies inside their pen. They are about a week old here.

 

[monkcat]

The set up we are planning is chain link covered in hardware cloth with an apron at the bottom. The back wall is solid. Temps here currently are mid 80's in the day. Nights are mid 60's. Could probably rig up something very easily to be a bit more confined within the space and cover it much as you have with plastic to keep heat in. I'm going to head over the the thread you suggested and read up on it. Much obliged. Want to get an idea of just how warm they need to be at their different ages. I know many of the temps are suggestions that "come with the chicks". More research here I come!

 

[Blooie]

Mine started out with a temp under the cave of 82.9 degrees. They thrived. I don't know why I was thinking that you weren't in an area warmer than we are here...duh, Diane! Ask location first is a cardinal rule when discussing topics like this and I blew it.