Outside

[Huskeriowa]

Hi all.

I have my chicks living in the basement in a dog cage. Today they are 5.5 weeks old. The nightly temperature is in the upper 40's so I have not put them in the coop yet. This weekend the lows are supposed to be in the fifties with the highs in the sixties and seventies. I know that chicks are supposed to start at ninety degrees under a heat lamp and each week you reduce the temp by 5 degrees. So at six weeks this weekend they would be ready for lows of only 65 degrees? Or are they feathered out enough this weekend to go outside?

When younger I had chicks and put them in the run when it felt warm enough and never had any die. Now the internet is here and I found this forum and am suddenly paranoid. Anyway, is it ok to leave them out?

Thanks much.

 

[BellevueOmlet]

I would wait a few more weeks if you can manage. They should have good feathers and be able to stand more cold but I always play it safe and probably baby my chicks a little too.

 

[Huskeriowa]

Thanks for the reply. So would you say that fifty plus degree temps at night is dangerous to a six week old or is it just not as comfortable as they would like?

 

[AnaD]

I put mine out at 4-5 weeks with a heatlamp. The lows got into the 30s one night, but they did super.

 

[outdoor junkie]

I finished my coop today and mine are being evicted from the garage tomorrow, our temps are about the same as yours. My birds are a few weeks older though and fully feathered. Tired of them walking all over the garage and pooping everywhere, because they will no longer stay in the pen.

I have had mine in the garage since they were 4 weeks old without a heat lamp and it has been steady in the 30's over night and they have done fine. Good luck.

 

[Snegurochka]

If they have a draft-free spot to sleep, and there are enough of them to keep each other warm, I don't think you'll have any problems.

 

[Huskeriowa]

Thanks for responding. They will go to the coop this weekend then. I am sure that all will be much happier.

 

[louclare]

we just put ours outside at that age, but we put the heat lamp in the coop. they like it much better than the brooder!

 

[Thompsonc2012]

Is there a time line out there that anyone knows about that says when steps should be taken interms of moving outside for the day and moving outside full time?

 

[Snegurochka]

I don't think there's a timeline. It just depends on what temperatures you're having outside at night, and how old they are. My great-grandma brooded her chicks in an outdoor brooder house, with a potbellied stove to keep them warm. As long as the nights are warm enough according to their age (or you use a heat lamp) they should be fine.

If you mean leaving them in a pen on the lawn during the day, I would make sure they have some kind of shelter to run into if they get cold, even if it's just a cardboard box; and I would keep a close eye on them to see if they huddle up.