They're outside!

[JML72]

Ok - they are 4.5 weeks old and I just put the out in their run this afternoon (you'd think I killed them there for a few minutes!). They're starting to warm up a little bit to the sand run. They're picking and eating various "crud" that has fallen into the run from the pine trees... I put fresh water and some chick-feed-mash for them to pick at - I don't know - maybe their mash will make them feel a little more secure?

I figure starting today, they're spending a couple of hours at a time out there (not fully feathered in yet - but close) until I just throw them out of their nice snug brooder and into the harsh cruel world of being a real chicken.

Anything I should look out for? Keep an eye out for coccidia since they're just now being exposed to the outside? Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[chickenarmy]

Yay! Chicks in the world! If it gets really cold at night a light will be good for them. NOT a brooder one though. No one likes a fire as far as I've heard.
We have a net over our run just for until they get big enough.
Poulvite or vitamins in their water is good for them if they seem sick. But other than that they will be happy outside eating grass! (which is good for them too eat)
Good Luck!!!

 

[Messy]

How cool!!! I love when our babies go outside. They are scared at first but in no time they act like they are the ones running the place LOL!

 

[JML72]

Thanks Army. They're already back in the big dog crate with comfy pine shavings (I'm heading out soon and not leaving them unsupervised yet lol). They are not happy about their trip.

And my thought is "suck it up ladies. It's going to get worse from here" because sooner or later I want the spare bathroom back!

 

[Wissa38]

We have three buff orpington chicks that lived in a brooder in our cellar till they were about 6 weeks. We'd been putting them outside during the day, but boy did they hate the trip out and back. It was stressful for them, it was stressful for us. So at 6 weeks we moved them outside for good. By this point it was warm during the day, and decent at night. The first night was horrid as I put them in the hen house and walked away, listening to their little frightened peeps. I felt like I was abandoning them. But a few nights later they were putting themselves to bed and happy as clams. They love being outside.