Outside time?

[noelleaiello]

First timer...I have 5 chicks and they are 5 weeks old. Forecast says low of 45 tonight. They've been outside during the day most of this week. My husband says "chickens belong outside" but I don't want them to be cold.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

They'll be fine at that age and temperature as long as they are dry and out of the wind.

 

[noelleaiello]

Thanks... I put cardboard on the outside of the back of the coop and there is sand and pine shavings on the bottom. So it's definitely dry and well sheltered.

 

[azygous]

You're forgetting they are wearing warm feathered jackets. They won't get cold unless you forget to feed them. (Fat chance of that.) Let them move out where they'll be much happier.

 

[noelleaiello]

Ok. Do I just leave the feeder with lots of food or do I feed them "meals" I don't have any chicken owning friends to ask. Lol.

 

[aart]

Ok. Do I just leave the feeder with lots of food or do I feed them "meals" I don't have any chicken owning friends to ask. Lol.

Chickens should have the proper feed available at all times that they are awake......water too of course.

 

[MigraineMan]

Took the big chicks outside for the first time yesterday. My daughter did the chicken-whisperer bit to try to coax them out of the bucket. Nope. Ultimately, we just had to evict them - they are surprisingly resistant to any form of "change." They are a big bunch of scaredy-chickens. We are pretty certain we have one roo in this batch, and he did a good job managing his ladies. They had about 2 hours outdoors before we put them back in the brooder.