Taking my chicks outside????

[DebB11]

They are approx 3 weeks old. It is going to be about 78 degrees here tomorrow. Would it be ok to take the chicks out for a bit to scratch and forage around in the garden? Or are they too young?

 

[julie75]

Mine had been outside on warm days for short periods of time by that age. Just keep in mind once they get a taste of it they will want to go outside everyday, lol. Mine would run and hide from me when they figured out that I was calling them back so that I could put them back into their brooder.

 

[DebB11]

so even at their young age, it isn't going to hurt them to forage on the ground... just wanna make sure....there are lots of weeds and such in the garden and I am sure a few bugs

 

[Fred's Hens]

You can be sure Mother Hen would have her naturally brooded chicks out on a 78 degree day!!

 

[alcap]

That will love it !

 

[ryan820]

I'd take my peeps outside today as its warm but the wind is up to 30mph sustained gusting to 50. I'd have to take a big net out to catch them in the wind.

 

[julie75]

Quote:
We've been having some gusty days too. My chicks still go out. I have 1, 2 & 3 week old chicks and on the windy days they seem to prefer staying in the taller weeds. The only ones not out are the 2 day old polish that I just got yesterday. I would probably lose them if they went out because they are so tiny, lol.

 

[hsdiaz]

Quote:
I gave my chicks a chunk of dirt from our yard when they were only 4 days old. Put it right in the brooder and they went to town, hunting and eating earthworms, chasing each other around. It was so fun to watch. I just made sure they also had grit, but now they look forward to a new batch of dirt every few days or so.

 

[crossgirl]

I have a metal kennel/cage that I put down for them upside down so the big grids are on the dirt. They can hunt and peck all they want but I don't have to worry about losing them.

 

[stoneeater]

The top of my brooder is a wire cage with kind of a litter pan bottom. I put the cage part out, put the chicks in there and let them scratch away while I clean the litter pan part. Makes it easy to round them up since they're contained. Have been doing this on warm days since they were 1 week old and they love it.