Should I Put The Chicks Outside? Yes? No?

[floral_chickadee]

I currently have 6, nearly 5 weeks old, chicks and I’m debating with myself wether or not to let them spend the night in the coop.

The past couple days I’ve been bringing them outside for little “field trips” and they’ve been doing great. I’m starting to think they should spend the night soon, but I’m worried because the night time lows are about 40°F (with the day time highs being 70°F). Is that too cold for them? Is there anything I can put in there with them to keep them warm? I don’t have any electricity in the coop.

 

[LavenderMotherHen]

I like to put mine outside at 4+ weeks with heat, then I wean them off it by 6 weeks- depending on the weather. It was 40 degrees at night when I first put them outside in a temporary coop (near the house for the extension cord), and it all worked out okay. They're 6+ weeks and officially weaned off heat and in the big girl coop.

 

[Silviaschicks]

They're old enough to be outside, they can go out between 4-6 weeks. If you're worried about the cold at night, you could either bring them inside or put a heater in their roost

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine are off heat and in the coop at 4 weeks, down in mid-40s, but they're also raised outside so they're well acclimated to the temperatures.

Are your chicks completely off heat? Have you let them go outside on cooler days? If so, pick an upcoming day with a favorable forecast and just move 'em out.

 

[Aapomp831]

I currently have 17 chicks that are all 3 weeks outside in an aluminum shed converted into a coop. They have a heat lamp hanging, but the rest of the shed is all theirs. They barely spend any time under the heat lamp (except at night - it is still getting to the high 30s (Fahrenheit) to 40s at night). I also put some sideways buckets in there filled with shavings so they have a small enclosure to go into (it’s next to the heat lamp but not underneath it so it doesn’t melt). They are perfectly fine.

 

[Glimmerofhope]

Mine were out at 4 weeks in the coop with overnight low's in the 50s. Prior to that I was bringing them out during the daytime with highs in the 60s to 70s and leaving them out in their brooder box under the covered patio to slowly acclimate and then bringing them back in the garage overnight.