Two and half week old chicks.....they STINK!!!

[KCalhoun]

You only have 9 posts so I am assuming you only have chicks.
They can be in the coop from day 0 , the only reason not to is if you can’t possibly separate new chicks from hens. I’ve never raised chicks anywhere except coop. As long as it is above 15 degrees F there’s no issues with mama heat pad.

I'm new to BYC so I haven't done alot of posting, just reading and learning!!!
I have older chickens ranging in ages from 4 months down to these Barred babies. I raised all of them in the brooders but now that it has gotten hot here I was really wondering if babies that young could go out. Again, I have the AC running in my shed and no light on the babies today and they are fine. I know it will have to be safe and they will be but I was thinking about outside brooders from here on out

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Even still, looking at weather all throughout the Gulf region, I am convinced these chicks can live outside at 3 weeks with no heat source.​

Probably, but heating during the night is needed.

 

[KCalhoun]

How often do you clean the brooder? Also, it is too early to move them to the coop.

Once a week at least but the dust is still horrible

 

[Doc7]

Probably, but heating during the night is needed.

Lows of 73, at 3 weeks, 7chicks that can huddle, I just disagree with you here.

 

[KCalhoun]

The weather here in Louisiana is HOTTTT.......temps are hitting 90+ in the day and upper 60's to mid 70's at night. Humidity is choking hot and I didn't know if that would hurt the little ones or not.
I can put a heat light in at night but I just thought because it was so hot it would be okay for the little ones even though they are not feathered yet.

I have read that momma hens have their little ones out at 3 days old no matter the temp and I just thought that even though these don't have a hen but plenty of protection from the elements that they would be alright

 

[Doc7]

The weather here in Louisiana is HOTTTT.......temps are hitting 90+ in the day and upper 60's to mid 70's at night. Humidity is choking hot and I didn't know if that would hurt the little ones or not.
I can put a heat light in at night but I just thought because it was so hot it would be okay for the little ones even though they are not feathered yet.

I have read that momma hens have their little ones out at 3 days old no matter the temp and I just thought that even though these don't have a hen but plenty of protection from the elements that they would be alright

they are out and about but they use mama to warm up. As myphoto shows, they might even spend an hour or two out infreezing temps but then retreat to heat for30-60 mins to rest and warm up.

Another poster and I disagree, I think with your temps you can coop your birds without heat. But how will you integrate with the older ones is a problem you still need to solve. I integrate at 16-19 days old but usually only one age class of chicks integrating in.

I split my coop and run in two for 5 weeks each spring. At 2.5 weeks I integrate like this, and about 4-5 weeks of age I remove barriers.

right now I have 3 week olds, 8 week olds, and year to 3 year olds all running around together with the panic doors open. This coming weekend i will be opening all doors 100%, this way I will be confident I can leave for 10 days vacation in a week with nothing other than egg collection for my neighbor to do.

 

[KCalhoun]

Even still, looking at weather all throughout the Gulf region, I am convinced these chicks can live outside at 3 weeks with no heat source.​

thank you!!!! These will be the first ones I want to take out this early of age. All my others was at least 4 weeks before I took them to the outside brooder.

 

[Doc7]

I took away my 3 week olds (June 1 babies) Heat 2 days ago, this is my weather

:

 

[Gooseface]

Just put them out there. They will be fine. Like I said, by 4 weeks old mine were in 40 degree weather at night with no lamps. I shut the lamp off at 3.5 weeks.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

I guess im over protective of my babies. I live in upstate ny and my babies stay inside til 6 weeks. I want to be able to check on them at all hours. They have a light on for at least the first 2 weeks. On nice days i take them out to play in the grass but I have a ton of predators so I want my babies safe. I have 13 babies in my brooder and as long as I change them every day or at least every other they don't tend to stink. I use large pine shavings on top of puppy pads. Never any dust.