Raising baby chicks during the summertime

[Johnscj1]

I’m new to raising chickens and got my Buff and Lavender Orpingtons three weeks ago. I’m confused about how long to keep them in the brooder since the outside temperatures are in the 90s. I have them in the garage with fans and a Brinsea heater. What is the rule of thumb for moving them outside since I will never be able to get the inside temps down below the high 80s? Is it 6-8 weeks?

 

[Blooie]

For me it’s at a couple of days old, outside in the run, with temps still in the teens and twenties. By 4 weeks old, mine are off all heat completely and the wire brooder pen is completely taken out.

By this age and in your temps, I’d start weaning them off supplemental heat. If it gets chilly, turn the fan off. They’re kinda cancelling each out anyway. Good luck!

 

[woodenfarm]

I always moved mine out when they have fully feathered
Usually 6weeks or little longer

But are you adding to a flock or just these ones?

 

[Spartan22]

If the temps are in the 90s and they’re already 3 weeks old or more they should be fine in the coop. At this time they normally can handle cooler weather at night, The Brinsea heater is unnecessary anymore. The 3 week olds chicks that my broody hen hatched are actually weaned from her and they’re all perching on bars on their own at night even when temps drops to 70s.

 

[Blooie]

Yep...and even colder!

 

[Johnscj1]

If the temps are in the 90s and they’re already 3 weeks old or more they should be fine in the coop. At this time they normally can handle cooler weather at night, The Brinsea heater is unnecessary anymore. The 3 week olds chicks that my broody hen hatched are actually weaned from her and they’re all perching on bars on their own at night even when temps drops to 70s.

For me it’s at a couple of days old, outside in the run, with temps still in the teens and twenties. By 4 weeks old, mine are off all heat completely and the wire brooder pen is completely taken out.

By this age and in your temps, I’d start weaning them off supplemental heat. If it gets chilly, turn the fan off. They’re kinda cancelling each out anyway. Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[Johnscj1]

I always moved mine out when they have fully feathered
Usually 6weeks or little longer

But are you adding to a flock or just these ones?

These are my first ones! Thank you!

 

[Johnscj1]

If the temps are in the 90s and they’re already 3 weeks old or more they should be fine in the coop. At this time they normally can handle cooler weather at night, The Brinsea heater is unnecessary anymore. The 3 week olds chicks that my broody hen hatched are actually weaned from her and they’re all perching on bars on their own at night even when temps drops to 70s.

Thank you!

 

[woodenfarm]

These are my first ones! Thank you!

Was asking because if you was adding to a flock they need to be older before you put them in with older chickens.

You should be fine to put out just make sure you close them up at night and let them put of the coop in the morning.

I have two baby chicks this is the first time and it is a hot summer. I will probably move them out to the coop around 3 or 4 weeks.
My other ones was early spring and it was still cold we kept in longer till they was fully feathered out

 

[lazy gardener]

No, they do not need to be older when you put them in with an adult flock. Young chicks actually integrate much easier than they do if you wait till they are teenagers. This being said: you must have plenty of room in coop and run, multiple feed and water stations, lots of places for them to retreat from the adults. I would not attempt early integration in a little prefab coop. That would be a recipe for disaster. @azygous is the queen of the panic room set up. Check her signature for her panic room article.