Outside qustion

[sgtmck1]

My chicks are a month old mostly feathered out. There heads and necks still have down. Its been warm here so i have been takeing them out a little, Today however was nice and the kids had no school and was able to watch them so I left them out all day. They had a blast, running and flying. When I brought them back in this afternoon they where not happy I mean really throwing a fit, and standing at the door wantiing out. Is it ok to leave them out a night yet? It gets down to about 65. Too cold yet?

 

[Chickmano]

Same thing here. Are you in Sterling, VA? We're in Ashland and we put ours outside in their new "baby coop" today for the first time. They're also 4 weeks. It was so nice we decided to leave them out, but we did put the heat lamp out there...just in case. When I checked a little while ago they were sound asleep and looking completely happy and peaceful. If the weather stays this nice, I think they're out of the bathroom for good. I have to admit I miss having the little guys in the house, though.

 

[Maren's Marans]

Any way you could hang a heat lamp just incase they need it? I moved my four week old ladies out last night, feathered as you describe yours to be. I ended up hanging a second light before bed because they were all huddled under the one. We are running mid forties at night, my coop is not insulated. They seem perfectly content with the two lights. Perhaps you will only need one.

 

[dieselgrl48]

Well if it's 65 at night they will be fine.Gosh I just graduated 18 or so bantam's today that were 2 month's old.But temp's have been down to low 40-minus here in Virginia at night.I put lot's of hay in their pen's and We just put 8 Millie Fleur's to big coop yest. and they seemed great today.We moved 18 layer's too but they had been in grad.pen for a few week's in a pen enclosed.It's warming up here and as long as they are out of the element's (wind/rain they should be fine.The bird's here seem to be loving the free space and stuff.At least they aren't flying all over basement now and leaving present's on the way to do laundry lol.I still got 2 more brooder's down there yet. but already working on their pen's etc.Your bird's should be fine.

 

[karen&mark]

we are in north western washington. Mine 4 golden sex links are 7 weeks old and mostly feathered, but we are still kind of cold at night. Is there a temp. guideline to go by? We built the green roof chicken coop and it is not insulated either.

 

[MotherJean]

Karen&mark: I'm in you neck of the woods and I put my 4 week old girls out in their uninsulated coop a couple of nights ago. Hung their lamp out there with a 100 watt bulb (as they say...just in case). I do close the shutters on the windows and put a cover over much of the upper ventilation for overnight. Open everything back up in the morning. They're doing splendidly. Better, in fact, than in the brooder. They were getting too big and getting testy with each other because they felt crowded.

Here's their new coop (run not finished yet):

Here's the girls in their new digs:

If mine are doing okay, yours probably will too.

 

[chickee]

My chicks will be 5 wks this Monday and have been in a un-insulated coop for 2 weeks now. I started them with a 100w ceramic heat lamp and now they are down to a 60w heat lamp. Our over night temps here in Northern California have been in the 30's and they are doing great! I let them out if it is sunny and 60 degrees or warmer.

 

[sgtmck1]

Thanks.I think I will put them out to stay today.