Opinions on booting my chicks outside please?

[suzeqf]

My husband and I are debating whether or not it is OK to put our chicks outside. Here are the facts:

We live in Hampstead, NC ( near Wilmington ) so temps are mild. This next week, the lows will be mid 40 to mid 50's.

One chick ( our very own hatchling ! ), is a 12 week old Barred Rock roo. He is a big boy, fully feathered.

The girls are about 8 weeks ( 2 orphs, 1 barred rock, 1 sex link ), feathered and good size.

Their new home is a cute coop with a small but nice size fenced in yard.

No heat lamp, but I could put one in if ya'll think I need to.

So, what do you guys think?? Another thing......at present, my husband is working out of town and I am caring for 2 goats, 9 cats, 1 dog, and 20 other chickens in 4 different coops/yards!! So, I would LOVE to boot these guys outside as my guest room is a disaster!! They are in a large dog kennel and I am constantly cleaning up their messes and spills!!

thanks in advance for your help!!!
Debbie

Most defintely time to give them the boot outside, I brood in a large metal dog kennel in my hubby shop and I couldn't imagine have all the dust and mess in my house. Since they are fully feathered they should be fine without a heat lamp but since they are accustomed to a temp control area i'd put one in with them for a few days until they aculmated to the outside

 

[dlockey]

Thank you all for your help! As I type, they are in their new homw!! Took them out 1 by 1, and you would have thought they were being killed by all the noise!! Maggie (golden retriever) was quite upset that "her" babies were upset! She has visited with Rockey (1st hatchling roo) every day since he hatched and is quite attached to him! I took pics of them in the new space, but not sure when I will tell DH !

 

[Happy Chooks]

They will definitely be fine!

I brood exclusively outdoors in a small coop, as hubby kicked me out of the garage and outbuildings due to the dust.

Granted, I'm in CA so our weather is mild compared to most, but there were DAY old chicks in this. (with a heat lamp of course)

 

[[email protected]]

Hello

I will have some chicks hatching in a couple of weeks and I was wondering if it would be ok to brood them in my large chicken coop (shed)? Its insulated and at night we heat it. I would have a brooding cage and a heat lamp with some hay? I live in massachusetts and it does get pretty cold. I usually keep chicks inside but it gets so messy and dusty. Just wanted to see what you guys think?

 

[chickendot]

We have 7 chicks that hatched on Dec 6th..The first two weeks they were in the house, then moved to a brooder in the garage w/light in cage.. At 4 weeks
they were moved to the coop with the other hens but they are separated with a box within the coop and have there own yard. We have had snow, night temps
down to 8 degrees and they are fine, almost fully feathered out now. We are going to turn the heat off during the day but keep it on for the nights ( my rule)
until we hit spring. We are in high desert and even with a warm day, nights will plunge into the teens and 20's.