Question about moving birds to the outside coop

[capebird]

I've read that the chicks should stay inside in the brooder until
all of their feathers come out... about 6 -8 weeks (as a general rule,
more or less). This is my first batch of chicks. My 5 barred rocks are going on 4 weeks
old. The outside coop is ready and the run also ready... in fact I've been
putting them out in their run all during the day for the past week.... and then
bring them back inside in the late afternoon. The temps around here have been
in the 70s - 80s during the day.... and maybe 50s to 60s in the evening.

My question is.... if there were a light bulb in the coop, same as inside their
brooder (so the temps were the same, more or less).... is there reason that
they couldn't go out to the coop for good. Anyone ever put their chicks
outside in the coop before they get all their feathers?

Thanks for the help.
Pict of the girls in their outside run attached.

 

[BeetleChick]

We put our 12 chicks outside @ 4 weeks old in NC, that was 5 weeks ago. They were fine with their lamp.

 

[Mahonri]

At five weeks, they can handle 50 degrees.

and BTW... they are beautiful!

 

[capebird]

Thanks!!

 

[sonally]

Hello Cape cod chickens! North Central Mass, here. Your barred rocks look like mine did last week. Our coop is not quite finished, but if it were, we would have them outside! We have eight chickens (2 barred rocs, 2 Doms, 2 Buff Orp and 2 Golden Comets) We figure they will keep each other warm at night when we finally get them outside, Hopefully by next weekend, they will be 6 weeks by then. You are a bit warmer down there, so I would go for it, with the bulb for warmth ! Post pics of your coop and run..... I'd love to see it

before we finish ours! Ally

 

[capebird]

Hi Sonally,

picts of my coop and run attached. Good luck with your
coop build and thanks for the reply. Good luck with your chicks.

 

[BoltonChicken]

Hey, PERFECT attachment of the hardware cloth!

Put 'em out! They will love it as long as the night temps don't drop below 50 all should be well.

Heck, even that probably won't hurt them.

 

[capebird]

Thanks BoltonChicken. We have raccoons, opossum, fox and other critters here
so I want to make sure the girls are safe. I buried the wire down around a foot and
also laid out a sheet of wire about 6 inches under the dirt floor of the run. I guess it's
about as safe as could be.... my first time doing this....so it's all a learning experience.
It has been a lot of fun though. Can't wait for those eggs!!

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

I'm in TN...I put mine in an outside brooder last week. Some were a week old, some almost two weeks. It's been in the 90s in the daytime...at night, I have a 250 watt heat lamp. They can get out of the rain, and the run is covered so there is shade, with a strip of sun across the front of it. They've been out there over a week and I lost none of them.

 

[laseterlass]

My 3 and a half week olds lost the heat lamp last night. They all huddled down in their boot box sat there looking up in question and then went right to sleep. They are in the garage in AK. down to the 40s at night mid 50s and breezy during the day, I keep the door open so it is the same as being outside. I close it at night. Everyone has mentioned how quick they have been to feather up. I figure it is like horses, when they get cold they grow a coat. There are 11 of them now as 5 went to their new home. I hope to have them outside full time by mid week next week.