Ready to Go Outside?

[lilbabychickens:)]

I purchased 25 chicks from Murray McMurray. They are all really healthy and active. A friend of mine who has raised chickens for his whole life tells me they're HUGE for the age of 2 weeks. Here's the issue though. They need to come home! They are staying in the Ag Classroom at my school under a heat light. The kids have them tamed to be WAY too friendly. They are standard sized, and supposed to be all pullets, although I have doubts about two. They have a 12X12 horse stall to stay in. The barn is PARTIALLY insulated, but it gets down to the mid to low 30's at night. If I cut the stall down a little and bed it deep at night would they keep warm by "cuddling?" I use shredded office paper as bedding which is a little warmer than other kinds, due to my 18 yr old horse's pine and dust allergy.

 

[Kelly G]

Two weeks might be a little early to go without an external heat source if it gets really cool at night.

In addition to size, the amount of feathers they have will determine how warm they are able to stay without additional heat.

Can you put a heat lamp out there?

 

[luvzmychickens]

when my chicks were about 3-4 weeks old we put them out side in a big dog crate, and covered it with a big towel. at 5 weeks they were in thier chicken coop. this was in the summer though so it was warmer. if you live somewhere cold or its cold there right now, let them play outside for a day, just into the late evening. study them to see if they act cold, if they huddle togather, there just to small and its to coldfor them to go out yet.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

i wouldn't risk it yet....I'd put a heat lamp on them at least until the cold temps. at night warm up, and they have more feathers on them.

 

[teach1rusl]

Way too young to go without heat! Run a heatlamp or two out to the horse stall, and make sure there are NO drafts....

 

[RAWR]

not yet
a would wait about 2 weeks