Timetable for chicks

[Kris7115]

I haven' t had chicks in several years (have 5 grown hens), now have three 1-month-old chicks feathering out nicely. When can I turn off the brooder lamp? When can they move outside? When do I change their feed? I seem to have forgotten the timelines!

 

[AuntieWeasel]

Mine are five weeks. I've been taking them out in the daytime in the run for a week, but bringing them in at night. I'd like to leave them out at night now, but they keep collapsing in a wriggly chick pile on the ground rather than go in the house and, if not perch, at least sleep in a wiggly chick pile in the nesting box. I'll give them up to another week to figure it out, then I'll lock them in the house for the night.

They took themselves off heat after about week three, by refusing to go under the electric hen hotplate thing.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

If your weather is moderate, its fine to turn off the indoor heat source by around 4 weeks. I like to start by turning off my heat plate during the day time for a week and back on at night before keeping it off completely. By six weeks they are usually old enough to transition to grower pellets or all flock and move outside. Again I like to keep them outside during the day only for a week or two before moving them outside permanently around 8 weeks, but that's just because I love to enjoy their baby stage as long as possible.
As soon as they have all the body feathers they are fine outdoors in most weather conditions.

 

[Kiki]

Where about do you live?

I put two week old chicks outside last month with no added heat.

I have a 1-week-old quail that's going outside today with no heat.

 

[HopeSprings]

My first flock of chicks is 5 1/2 weeks old and have been off the heat for a week now. As they are 17 birds, they haven't had the opportunity to go outside yet! I will be moving them out to their new coop tomorrow evening. They'll stay in the coop for a couple of days before I let them out into the run -- don't want to overload their little bird brains! We always cool off here at night, but these guys produce a good bit of body heat; I'm sure they'll stay warm enough!

 

[Jimberly]

My first flock of chicks is 5 1/2 weeks old and have been off the heat for a week now. As they are 17 birds, they haven't had the opportunity to go outside yet! I will be moving them out to their new coop tomorrow evening. They'll stay in the coop for a couple of days before I let them out into the run -- don't want to overload their little bird brains! We always cool off here at night, but these guys produce a good bit of body heat; I'm sure they'll stay warm enough!

How did they do outside?

 

[HopeSprings]

How did they do outside?

They're doing great! I have 3 windows just above the roost and we do cool off at night, but they're thriving!