Ready for outside?

[Jtrivett]

My chicks are just over 5 weeks old. Feathers, no fluff to see. It’s at least 65 during the day and in the 50s at night consistently, (they’ve been having mid day outings daily and are not happy when we bring them in at night) we live in utah though so next week the night forecast is showing in the 40s. Would the girls be ok in the coop?

 

[cherrynberry]

My chicks are just over 5 weeks old. Feathers, no fluff to see. It’s at least 65 during the day and in the 50s at night consistently, (they’ve been having mid day outings daily and are not happy when we bring them in at night) we live in utah though so next week the night forecast is showing in the 40s. Would the girls be ok in the coop?

They should be having 70 degrees at that age, I recommend waiting a week to put them out, although it should be fine...

 

[Jtrivett]

Thank you, that’s kind of what I was thinking too. Do you know a night time temp to look for? ( today during the day we hit 80)

 

[cherrynberry]

Thank you, that’s kind of what I was thinking too. Do you know a night time temp to look for? ( today during the day we hit 80)

I am not sure about that, but the general rule of thumb is to let them outside at around 6-7 weeks of age...

 

[kurby22]

I read someone else’s suggestion the other day about putting a small crate in the coop with thick pine bedding for them to pile into which helps hold their heat in better, and so I tried it and they’ve been very happy. However, I waited until overnight temps were above 60 degrees. I think 40s might be too cold still, without some sort of heat source. You're super close though, they appear to be loving their daytime escapades

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they've been off heat, they're ready to go. Your temperatures are quite warm!

 

[Jtrivett]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[K0k0shka]

I am not sure about that, but the general rule of thumb is to let them outside at around 6-7 weeks of age...

No, the general rule is to put them outside when they are fully feathered and weaned off of supplemental heat (unless heat is provided in the coop, in which case they can go out whenever). These are fully feathered. They'll be fine.

 

[cherrynberry]

No, the general rule is to put them outside when they are fully feathered and weaned off of supplemental heat (unless heat is provided in the coop, in which case they can go out whenever). These are fully feathered. They'll be fine.

oh...okay. But I thought every week the temperature is to go down 5 degrees, starting with 90-95 degrees? Shouldn't they be weaned of by around 6-7 weeks anyways? I may be wrong although thats what I had been going by...

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

They should be fine. I've had my chicks outside in a coop for a couple of nights (40s or so) and they're only 4 weeks.