Taking chicks outside

[ant888]

Now, I know that you're supposed to keep 1 or 2 week chicks in the brooder, but what if it's 60s to 70s degrees? Will it hurt to do it for a few minutes? I won't do it until I find out first. I will also post pictures of my chicks, and see if anyone knows their age. I got them from the feed store.

 

[ant888]

Any ideas?

 

[Varglet]

You can take baby chicks, even as young as day olds, outside if the weather is nice. Sunshine, warm, no wind. Watch their behavior, and do NOT leave them unattended, even if they are in a pen. Give them a little shelter (as well as food and water, of course) and if they start huddling up and yelling (cold), bring them back inside.

 

[ant888]

You can take baby chicks, even as young as day olds, outside if the weather is nice. Sunshine, warm, no wind. Watch their behavior, and do NOT leave them unattended, even if they are in a pen. Give them a little shelter (as well as food and water, of course) and if they start huddling up and yelling (cold), bring them back inside.

Thanks for answering! Can they go in the sun? Is it too much of a glare?

 

[azygous]

My rule of thumb is at two weeks old, chicks are far enough along and stable to go on brief outings away from their heat source on 70F, 20C calm days when the sun is out. Watch for chicks to start huddling, and it's the signal to haul them back to their brooder.

Resist the urge to put them inside a very small pen to contain them. Give them some space, with supervision, and let them demonstrate low level flight! Good times!

Direct sunlight is good for them on mild days, but they will absorb too much heat if it's very warm due to down being terrible insulation against heat as well as cold. If it's 80-90F, they will need shade.

 

[ant888]

Is 60F good for them? There's sun, too.

 

[azygous]

Try them at 60F as long as the wind or strong breeze isn't blowing.

The advantage of brief and regular excursions out to the naturally cooler outdoors is they will gradually acclimate to cooler temps, better preparing them for their big move to the coop.

Just watch for chilling and be prepared to whisk them back to their brooder.

 

[csaylorchickens]

It's too cold and windy here yet but this weekend they will be 2 weeks old and I have a lot of cardboard for a barrier for them. They love outdoors! I have a crate I carry them in so it makes it easy to gather up

 

[ant888]

Why did Tractor Supply Co. say that they need to be fully feathered?

 

[Varglet]

Why did Tractor Supply Co. say that they need to be fully feathered?

They need to be fully feathered before they can be put outside permanently.