Outside at 4 weeks? and introducing new chick?

[dkubarek]

I moved my month old chicks outside a couple days ago. They are mostly feathered. Breeds are cochin, easter eggers, bantam brahma, faverolle, and barnevelder. 6 birds total. I moved them to a 4 by 5 foot coop. Pa. nights are in the 60s. I've been using a 250 watt heat lamp at night but it seems to keep them up a lot.

How long should I continue to use the heat?

Also, I'd like to add another bird, a langshan, but she's 2 months and very small. Breeder says it's the heat. She's not even fully feathered. Should I not do this because it could lead to a bloodbath? I have two small girls. If I should introduce them, any suggestion as to how? Thanks!

 

[bairo]

what worries me more(than 60 degree nights) is taking them straight from a heat lamp to 60 suddenly.
In the summer I usually start weaning mine off the heat lamp at about three weeks. If they are fully feathered and doing well I'll move them over to a cordoned off area in the big coop at 4 weeks. Depending on how my big girls are reacting to them....I have cut them loose as early as 6 weeks.

That langshan sounds like trouble. I have raised a lot of chicks and never attributed lack of growth to the heat. Maybe I'm wrong? But not in my experience

 

[dkubarek]

I weaned the brooder to about 70-75F, but yea I see your point. It's been very hot here, like in the 90s, but high 60s at night. When it's low 60s I kick the light on.

 

[bairo]

I weaned the brooder to about 70-75F, but yea I see your point. It's been very hot here, like in the 90s, but high 60s at night. When it's low 60s I kick the light on.

In that case you should be fine. Sorry... I took it as you did not wean them. At 4 weeks in the 60's they can easily regulate their temp by how close they huddle.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

introducing one older chick to younger ones doesn't always create a blood bath. I had one single pullet that is a month older then my chicks. I put several of my chicks with her during the day everyday starting with just a few minutes, I slowly built up to leaving them with her all day. Then when there were no issues I left them out with her all day and night. She now protects them, if i go to grab one she acts like a momma hen which is funny cause she's only 2 months old now.

also my 5 week old chicks have been outside with no light for over a week now. Yes I kicked them out early there were to many of them for my brooder. I didn't have a cord that would reach their coop so they went without. They all did fine and I'm in Washington the weather here is always cold at night.

 

[dkubarek]

I peek in at night and they don't look cold. they're not huddled up or anything, just nesting in the pine shavings.

Thanks everyone!

 

[bairo]

I think your def. good then.

 

[LakeBird]

introducing one older chick to younger ones doesn't always create a blood bath. I had one single pullet that is a month older then my chicks. I put several of my chicks with her during the day everyday starting with just a few minutes, I slowly built up to leaving them with her all day. Then when there were no issues I left them out with her all day and night. She now protects them, if i go to grab one she acts like a momma hen which is funny cause she's only 2 months old now.

also my 5 week old chicks have been outside with no light for over a week now. Yes I kicked them out early there were to many of them for my brooder. I didn't have a cord that would reach their coop so they went without. They all did fine and I'm in Washington the weather here is always cold at night.

I have How old was the pullet you introduced the chicks to? I have a 6 week old (looks like a she) and 2 week old chicks that I want to put together. Not sure when I should do that.

I live in Washington too and have been wondering if I should leave the heat lamp on at night. I have 2- 6 week old chicks and wasn't sure if they huddled, it would create enough warm for them at night. We had a lot of strange weather this year!

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I have How old was the pullet you introduced the chicks to? I have a 6 week old (looks like a she) and 2 week old chicks that I want to put together. Not sure when I should do that.

I live in Washington too and have been wondering if I should leave the heat lamp on at night. I have 2- 6 week old chicks and wasn't sure if they huddled, it would create enough warm for them at night. We had a lot of strange weather this year!

Yeah there has been a lot of strange weather but mine are doing good. The hen is 3 to 4 weeks older then my chicks. I'd wait til the chicks are 3 weeks old to introduce them. I successfully managed to get mine to get along by slowly increasing the amount of time mine spent with the chicks. I also sat out there with them with treats getting them to come up to my lap and eat out of my hand. It caused her to want to know what they were up to.

Also my trouble chicks (roosters that aren't getting along) have had to be put in cages by themselves. They are doing fine without a light as well outside. While not ideal to cage them, we do what we have to do.