soon to be 4 weeks old -- wife wants them outside

[Lancaster City Farmer]

Mine have been outside since they where 4 weeks old and we got down to high 30s,they will coddle in the coop and hunker down in the pine shavings.

 

[shaggy]

just curious what the rule of thumb was

i would like to put them out as soon as possible --- they will have a coop with a fenced in run

free access to the coop and the run 24x7

--- edit ---

the coop/run will be a little too far away from the house for a heat lamp even with an extension cord

i can start experimenting by putting them out during the day and putting them back inside at night if i need to

 

[hennypennysmom]

Just wondering about the comment you made about the dryer and respiratory issues? I'm not familiar with that - we have our 5 day old chicks in the garage in a brooder - our washer and dryer are out there.....

We are newbies - obviously!

Kara

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
i have read that chicks are susceptible to respiratory issues (mostly stemming from cedar for some reason)

and i assumed that if they are that sensitive - then it would be best for me not to put them in the garage ---- my dryer vent sometimes blows in the garage

 

[FisherMOM]

I videoed my babies being let out of their crate this morning. They are only let out under supervision. It will still be a while before I can put them in with the grownups. They have been out in this crate since they were one week old. They're 3 weeks old now.

I titled this "Popcorn chicken"

 

[welovechickens]

Too CUTE FisherMom!!!!! I love that age.

 

[Sequin]

I should think putting them out with a heat lamp at night would be fine. You can always put a blanket or towel over a part of their brooder to keep it draft free.

 

[intownfarmer]

Mine are 2.5 weeks old and are in thecoop with a brooder lamp. It was 27* last night here and my girls were fine.

 

[LauraM]

Mine were outside at 4 weeks full time, 100W lamp on at night, at it was getting down in the upper 20s and lower 30s. they were fine. I did use a towel to cover any drafty areas when it was really cold, but it was only a few weeks before they didn't need heat at all and it was still well below 50 at night.