So... acclimating chicks....

[SomeChickinTN]

They are 4 weeks old, and I have had them at room temp (about 72) for awhile now and they have been doing fine.... Now, one has successfully learned how to escape the brooder (now that's an odd sound). Anyway, they are in my laundry room. There are no windows, except in the back door. I'm trying to figure out how to get them from 72 to 30 degrees.
I don't think closing the vent will cool it off much more, and I don't have a garage to put them in. I have a large crawl space under the house, but it's the same as the outdoor temp but with almost no natural light.

The only thing I can think of is to build a wire chicken playpen on my back porch and put them in it for short bursts of time and bring them in as soon as they appear cold?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That plan would be helpful. IMO, they need a couple more weeks.
I've been moving chicks out every couple weeks. It has been getting to the teens at night.
I have some 5 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 weeks and just hatched. It's supposed to warm up this week so the olders will likely be moved out when night temps stay well over 30.
The more birds you have, the more they can keep warm at night by huddling.
Since you don't have a good way to acclimate them, it is better to wait longer.

 

[SomeChickinTN]

That plan would be helpful. IMO, they need a couple more weeks.
I've been moving chicks out every couple weeks. It has been getting to the teens at night.
I have some 5 weeks, 4 weeks, 2 weeks and just hatched. It's supposed to warm up this week so the olders will likely be moved out when night temps stay well over 30.
The more birds you have, the more they can keep warm at night by huddling.
Since you don't have a good way to acclimate them, it is better to wait longer.

Yeah, I was figuring on not starting until they are fully feathered. Based on feathers so far, I'm thinking that might be around 6 weeks.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

6 weeks is a good plan.