Raising chicks outside?

[AConk81]

We have 6 baby chicks right now. Two are about 2-3 weeks and then 4 are almost 1 week. Right now I have them in two separate brooder tubs. The older two are usually in the garage and do not have a light on them much at all, sometimes a 60 watt bulb if they seem chilly. The younger ones right now have a 250 watt bulb on them that I have to turn off and on because it's really too hot for them in there if I leave it on all the time.

They've all been together in a tub and did fairly well, only a little pecking. There was more pecking last night as it got to be bedtime, which is when I separated them since I wouldn't be there to supervise overnight. I was thinking about combining them and putting them outside in our grow out run with a heat lamp in the one corner but I have never raised chicks outside from such a young age before.

The grow out run is 6 feet by 8 feet. There is a wooden 3 sided box in the back which is about 3 feet by 3 feet, so plenty of space for them to all get out of the elements, and that has a wooden floor which I usually cover with shavings. The rest of the run has a grass floor since it's just a big dog kennel. I have surrounded the sides with hardware mesh so that the chicks can't slip out of the larger holes. The back half of the kennel is also covered with a tarp to keep things shaded and dry. Would the chicks be ok out there at such a young age if I hang a 250 watt bulb in the wooden box area?

I CAN keep them inside longer, I just thought that since it's so nice out here lately they might enjoy having more space and more things to explore and they would have more choice over how warm or cool they'd like to be since they'd have the option of sun, shade, or box with light. Right now all they can do is go to the one side of the tub and wait for me to turn the light off if they get too warm.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

We have 6 baby chicks right now. Two are about 2-3 weeks and then 4 are almost 1 week. Right now I have them in two separate brooder tubs. The older two are usually in the garage and do not have a light on them much at all, sometimes a 60 watt bulb if they seem chilly. The younger ones right now have a 250 watt bulb on them that I have to turn off and on because it's really too hot for them in there if I leave it on all the time.

They've all been together in a tub and did fairly well, only a little pecking. There was more pecking last night as it got to be bedtime, which is when I separated them since I wouldn't be there to supervise overnight. I was thinking about combining them and putting them outside in our grow out run with a heat lamp in the one corner but I have never raised chicks outside from such a young age before.

The grow out run is 6 feet by 8 feet. There is a wooden 3 sided box in the back which is about 3 feet by 3 feet, so plenty of space for them to all get out of the elements, and that has a wooden floor which I usually cover with shavings. The rest of the run has a grass floor since it's just a big dog kennel. I have surrounded the sides with hardware mesh so that the chicks can't slip out of the larger holes. The back half of the kennel is also covered with a tarp to keep things shaded and dry. Would the chicks be ok out there at such a young age if I hang a 250 watt bulb in the wooden box area?

I CAN keep them inside longer, I just thought that since it's so nice out here lately they might enjoy having more space and more things to explore and they would have more choice over how warm or cool they'd like to be since they'd have the option of sun, shade, or box with light. Right now all they can do is go to the one side of the tub and wait for me to turn the light off if they get too warm.

My chicks were 3 weeks old when we got them. The breeder said they were already staying outside in a run during the day and in a coop at night. She wasn't using a heat lamp anymore because she lived in Phoenix where it is in the 90's during the day and only down in the 70's at night.

We brought them home to our house where the temps are a little cooler during the day and a lot cooler at night. The first night I used a heat lamp to keep the temps inside the coop up to the 70's they were use to. On the second day while they were out in the run during the warm day, I kept their coop closed up to build up some heat from the sun, then when it got dark (and cooler) I put them in the coop where it was warm. They did just fine. They are now 7 weeks old and still doing just fine. They have free access to the coop so if it cools off in the day they can (and do) just go inside the warmer coop. It has been getting pretty warm the last few days so I may have to open the coop up some more so it doesn't get too warm inside during the day.

 

[debid]

Go for it! That sounds a lot like my juvenile detention center which I've used since they came home (3 days old). Not everyone keeps chicks in their house and it's perfectly fine to brood outdoors as long as you provide a secure home with heat available until they're feathered.

 

[AConk81]

Ok I think I am going to go to Lowe's and get a little more hardware cloth just to make sure they can't get out in the cracks where the door is, and then I'll try them out. I am just so used to reading about the little brooder tubs, but it does seem like they'd be happier outside where they have more things to explore.

 

[blobear23]

Safety is key word! I recently lost a 4 almost 5 moth old to s chicken snake because it was still small enough to swallow. So longnstorynshort Go for it! Just make surentheynare safe!

 

[debid]

I kept the pop door closed for draft protection until they were mostly feathered but it was early spring, too. They were so happy when I opened up the run full-time. Oh, and yes on hardware cloth. No holes bigger than 1/2" means no snake or rodent worries.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Ok I think I am going to go to Lowe's and get a little more hardware cloth just to make sure they can't get out in the cracks where the door is, and then I'll try them out. I am just so used to reading about the little brooder tubs, but it does seem like they'd be happier outside where they have more things to explore.

1/2" hardware cloths is the best way to go for little holes. Look at this snake squeezing through traditional 'chicken' wire...scary!



I agree that they would be happier outside rather then in a plastic tub as long as it is warm enough. It allows them to get use to their new world sooner. I personally think it's less of a shock to the babies if you move them out young, rather than when they are 7 weeks old and have only seen the inside of a brooder their whole lives. At this age they can already catch bugs and dig around...it will be much more fun for them!

 

[blobear23]

Omg! Is that going up or down?

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Omg! Is that going up or down?

I don't know...either way it is scary!!

 

[blobear23]

I believe that! I would have let all the chicken out and ran lol. When I found mine I shushed my kids out while running and grabbing baby chicks! Not my proudest moment but I'm HATE snakes! I know I know not to becoming of a life long country girl but that's my phobia!