Transition of chicks.....

[FlyinB]

Hello all, I was wondering when can one move his chicks out to a coop or outdoor pen? My chicks are 3-5 weeks old now and kinda out growin the tub I have them in now.....

 

[1muttsfan]

Until fully feathered chicks need supplemental heat, depending on where you live and how warm it is. Most chicks are fully feathered around 6 weeks of age, but some may take longer. You could put them in your coop, but would need to figure out how to provide a "warm" area large enough to accommodate all the chicks you have, so that at night or if it is chilly out they do not have to pile on top of each other (sometimes a chick will be smothered when this happens). If you use a heat lamp, be sure to secure it with at least 2 separate secure ties, not plastic ones, to reduce the risk of fire.

 

[KateJ75]

I've moved chicks out before the 6-week period, but only if it's 80+ during the day and doesn't drop below 60 at night.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I move my birds outside at 4 weeks. I ween them from the heat inside. I start by turning off heat inside for hours at a time then no heat at all (ambient temp 65-70F) for about 4 days.

I've had 4 week old birds out in spring without heat and we still get frosts until mid May. They are almost fully feathered and have the coop and each other to huddle for warmth. Remember, mother birds don't sit on chicks to warm them at 4 weeks old.

 

[1muttsfan]

Actually the chicks will seek out their mother and huddle under her to warm up when they get too cold. I have had chicks run around in the snow, but always provide a warm zone that they can move in and out of as they wish if they are not with a broody and the temps are going to be lower than 70 at that young an age.

It is important to transition your chicks gradually, as Egghead pointed out, to allow them a chance to get used to not having heat.