Please post pics of chicks ready 2 move outside!!

[adeechickluv]

I have a wide age range of chicks. They are 4 weeks, 3 1/2 weeks, and 2 weeks. I've heard you move them out when they are fully feathered (roughly 5-8 weeks?) Can you please post pix of your "fully feathered" chicks so I can get an idea of when to move them outside? Thanks!!
Adrienne

 

[abanjaf]

I think temperature is more important than how much feathers. I live in Central Florida. Temps are in the 70's-80 during the day and in the 60's at night. My six week old chicks are outside full time now. They are all fully feathered. My 3 1/2 week old chicks go outside at 10am and come back in at 5pm (unless of course it's a chilly day). They are also no longer under a heat lamp at night either. And then my third batch this spring is still hatching You might want to consider putting a light outside with them at night if your temps are still very chilly when you do finally move them outside.

Here are a couple of pix of first batch of babies when they were 4 weeks old and spent all day outside.

 

[adeechickluv]

Wow ... mine aren't nearly that big ... just a lil bigger than my hand; maybe the ages are wrong (I didn't hatch them so i don't know exactly.) I think I should let them out for a little bit because its warming up quite a bit, but I can't be home all the time and I'd rather be there while they're let out for now.

 

[907chicken]

I had mine out today at 50 degrees. they seemed very happy and fine. They were getting ready to take a nap out there and I brought them in. In total I think we were out there for 2 hours. Go to this link to see pictures from todays outing. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=328654

 

[Tala]

You can move them outside anytime if you give them a coop and heat lamp.
Check these guys out, they are in my chicken tractor - the smallest are a week old:

These kids lived in a barrel shelter for a few weeks:

 

[ChickenMama18]

Ours babies are quite a bit apart in age and the little ones went out at 2 1/2 weeks. It started raining that week...but they had a heat lamp and they used it. I checked on them and they were fine. A lot of people post about temps but I have started to go by behavior instead. As long as they are not shivering and such they should be fine. So yeah, heat lamp and coop. Good to go!

 

[chauqg]

Very cute little chicks!

 

[adeechickluv]

Just to clarify ... they're in a brooder box in our garage w/ a heat lamp. I was wondering when you can take them OFF the light and just let them hang in the coop. In particular what "fully feathered" looks like ...

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Well it would depend on your outdoor temperature still.

For example, our low temps right now are only in the 50's. I have chicks out without a lamp, These chicks are 6 weeks old and they have been off the lamp for about a week, but they stayed outside without a light before that when it was in the 70's coz they were "afraid" of their new barrel shelter! lol They weren't acting cold though. Really you watch your chicks and go by their reactions!!

However last fall, I had a lamp on 8+ week olds (at night only) because the temp was dropping to the mid-20's and they seemed to be shivvering. Even when "fully feathered" they still lack as much insulating down as the adults have. Those guys probably would have survived without the lamp, but why make them stressed?? There is no hard fast rule on temps or feathers, just observe the birds and if they seem to be suffering then give them a lamp.

 

[Tala]

*double post*