What temp can I put older ladies out for the first time?

[ferfcats]

I have 6 polish ladies that I got as day old chicks in the Fall. I raised them and kept them in the spare bedroom all winter as the winter here (and all over !) was brutal. They are now 6 or 7 months old - have been laying some some time. I have my older lady, Princess, who lives in the outside coop and has for over a year - she was the previous years chick so she is getting on for 2 years old. I would like to move the Polish ladies outside and reclaim the bedroom but I'm not sure what temperature will be safe for them since they are used to living in a heated home. They would be outside in a run during the day, with weather and shade protection available and in the barn at night in an enclosure that has a heat lamp and a radiant heat device available to them.

 

[sourland]

A lot will depend upon the average daytime temperatures in your locale.

 

[ferfcats]

Low 60s

 

[sourland]

If they were mine, they would be outside NOW.

I would start with them in the set up in the barn and gradually introduce them to the run. Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, get them outside into fresh air. If you can set it up so that they can go from the coup to the run as they wish, it is best, that way if they get cold, they will go in.

Move them at night, putting them in the coup, it may take a couple of days for them to get brave enough to venture forth, but that will be more from fear of strangeness than from cold.

Mrs K