When are chicks old enough to be outside during the day?

[Peppercorngal]

Hello. I searched around, but it was hard to find information on when chicks can go outside to explore, but still be sleeping in the house. I would love to bring my girls outside so they can have some fun in the yard, but what age is right? Right now they are 2 weeks.

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I also thought you might want to see the cuties!
Thanks!

Adorable chicks!

 

[LeoPig]

Thanks!

 

[LeoPig]

Thanks!

 

[toredano]

if its temperate outside and they have some feathers.. get ya some netting and some pvc pipe and make a portable open bottom kennel thingy out of it.. its easily picked up and you can chose where to sit them down .. gras.. concrete or sand etc.. this way they get some sun and fresh air each day.. and you can pull up a chair and watch them.I raised 3 chicks in my garage.. heat lamp and all that good stuff...I lucked into a 8 chicken coop at TSC for 100 bucks.. set it up.. concreted the bottom in and put the 3 garage chicks into it.. They love it.. I throw a handful of corn or leftovers in there a few times a week,, they are laying nice eggs now.Now.. they where never before outside so i think once feathered and they have shelter at night where they can huddle up in a box.. they will be fine..

 

[Rlmp817]

So I have a 100% outside open air brooder for my 2.5 week old chicks inside my open air run/coop (in California so our temps are 35 low and 60+ high) and my chicks are SUPER happy and hoppy& being well integrated to the existing flock. (I have 4 Buff Opringtons so they may be a little more weather hardy)
I have a terracotta pot turned warming station (MHP style) set up all the time for them now, so they can always huddle in where it is warm, but durring the day I very rarely see them in it. Most of the time they are flaked out in the sun or hopping all over their hopping station.

 

[Henrik Petersson]

Wy not let them go out from day one? If they have the opportunity to get to a heated and wind-less space? If a hen gets chicks, she takes them out at day one...

 

[Aunt Angus]

So I have a 100% outside open air brooder for my 2.5 week old chicks inside my open air run/coop (in California so our temps are 35 low and 60+ high) and my chicks are SUPER happy and hoppy& being well integrated to the existing flock. (I have 4 Buff Opringtons so they may be a little more weather hardy)
I have a terracotta pot turned warming station (MHP style) set up all the time for them now, so they can always huddle in where it is warm, but durring the day I very rarely see them in it. Most of the time they are flaked out in the sun or hopping all over their hopping station.

I would love to see pics of your set up! The only times I've had chicks were in the summer, and temps around here get into the 100s. But I'd love to get some next month when I am on Spring Break. I use a home made MHP, but I am always looking to improve.

 

[wamtazlady]

People who have used the Mama's heating pad have had chicks outside when it is below freezing and the chicks do fine. Chicks will use the heating pad just like they would use the hen. A couple years ago I had a hen have chicks when it was still cold and got below freezing. I was concerned so I watched them. Chicks would cuddle under her to get warm. Then they'd run around eating and drinking and pecking until they got cold again. Then under the hen they would go. A couple minutes to heat up and they would be running around again.

If the chicks have a nice draft free place to hang out and a heated area to get warm, I see no real reason the chicks couldn't be outside.

 

[Mrs.Megan]

I brood indoors but once it gets 40 or up, I let them explore in a pen outdoors with a heater. I check on them and make sure they aren’t huddled under the heater and/or making distressed cheeps. It was windy yesterday and only got up to 50 so I checked on them more frequently and they were completely fine. I have a group of 2 week old silkies and 1 week old marans. I think their drive to explore and build immunity is more important then shielding them from a bit of discomfort. My last group of chicks I raised during fall/winter and they also did great in the same set up. They are surprisingly hardy little things. I think we get nervous because of all the charts of temp for a certain week and while it’s good to have guidelines, go by their behavior and give them a safe place to explore. Also I should mention that with our weather currently I’m taking them out around noon and bringing them back in around 6 so it’s a good bit of time.

 

[jay873]

I have 2 and a half week old chicks in the house they are Easter Eggers temps are supposed to be atleast 60 and above 37 for the next week so outside they go they were always fine with a cover to prevent dew forming on them but I do check the first couple days at night to make sure they aren’t motionless chicks are way tougher than people give credit. Same with ducklings. Vut beware of the ducklings getting there head caught in the cage or net I lost 2 that way out of 4 Pekins that way.