Time for them to go outside.

[Caffus]

My chicks are finally 6 weeks. I love them, but I am tierd of them being inside.
The outsidr coop should be ready by next Tuesday. I am a little concern they'll have trouble with the heat next week it is supposed to get to 109. As long as they have cool water and plently of shade, do you think they will be fine?

 

[AidKD]

When temperatures start getting to the 100's it can become dangerous for your chickens. If you really want them outside I would suggest that you start slowly introducing them to the outdoors. Put them outside for a little while tomorrow, then longer on Saturday and so on. Once they are outside make sure they have plenty of water, shade, frozen treats, a small place in the run that has standing water, a dust bath area and a low key fan if you would like just to keep air moving through the coop. Make sure you check on them several times throughout the day to make sure they're not overheating. Hope this helps!

 

[RainbowHen]

6 weeks inside?? Holy smokes! You are one dedicated mama hen. Those temps are scary. Add ice to water, fans in coop, and offer them pools of water to walk in for sure. Best of luck!

 

[Caffus]

6 weeks inside?? Holy smokes! You are one dedicated mama hen. Those temps are scary. Add ice to water, fans in coop, and offer them pools of water to walk in for sure. Best of luck!

Yes..my husband says I take care of them like babies. Lol I can do that. I will check on them and bring them inside in the heat of the day in necessary.

 

[yakitori]

Wow, I had mine inside for 8 weeks but only at night after the first two weeks. Just the thought of them pooping that one extra poop gets me up at the crack of dawn to put them in their outside pen, lol (Then I go back to sleep and let them out to free range when I'm up again). I don't know how you survived 6 weeks!

Mine have done okay in the heat, but the "heat" here is only around the 90s. One of my EE pullets was evidently affected by the heat, she was constantly panting and sat on the ground often. The highest we hit was 94F, I would definitely be worried for her getting heat exhaustion if it got any hotter. Here it's relatively cool in the shade as we have plenty of trees and shrubs. During the warmer days I feed cold mash from the fridge which I made the night prior, and provide cold water.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I have a large, shallow container that I freeze and put in the run. They walk on it to cool off, and drink once it starts melting. That and a fan. When the temperature is over 100, I put electrolytes, like sav-a-chik, in one water container, and plain, cold, water in the other.

 

[Caffus]

Thanks all...my chicks are in the house in a dog crate with a tarp on top, right now. They are getting a bit to big for it now. I use cardboard for there flooring and flock fresh bedding with limestone powder. Its messy...but not too stinky. I change it everyday. Im almost done.

 

[Caffus]

 

[yakitori]

Compare with mine at 8 weeks Don’t worry, they did fine since they only used the brooder for sleeping.

I used pine pellets towards the end, and never changed it out. Everday I scooped out the poop, and the odor was hardly noticeable. It is a little dusty, so I wear a mask when sifting.

I loved the pine pellets so much, I’m now using it for their coop

 

[Caffus]

Nice looking bunch you have there