Raising chicks in the fall/winter

[Happy Chooks]

I just bought a bator and I'm going to hatch some chicks. I have a small building that I can put the chicks in a dog crate and have the heat lamp for them. How old do the chicks need to be before I can remove the lamp and start integrating with my older birds? They will still be in the dog crate in the coop (no lamp) so the older birds can start getting used to them being around.

I've never raised chicks this time of year. By the time I moved my original flock to the coop, it was plenty warm for them. I just want to make sure I don't move the babies too soon and have them be cold.

Oh, and I'm in Northern CA, so we are mildly cold through Dec. Doesn't get to freezing temps until January or so.

 

[faykokoWV]

I've asked this question myself and most responses indicated that once they are feathered out they are ok to move outside. I know my first chicks were outside in March and it was still pretty cold here getting down into the thirties.

 

[Happy Chooks]

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks!