When are the chicks old enough to go outside in winter?

[Ban seabhag]

Okay. That is want I will do then. I think they will be happier once they adjust. I will just have to roll with the punches weather wise, and keep the lamp til we can take it off gradually. Thanks for the info. Its what I need.

 

[Airilith]

I've been having this very same debate with myself. My 7 are 5 weeks exactly today. Over the last two weeks I've taking them on 1-2 hour excursions out in the coop, just about every day. It's not insulated but it's draftfree. I've set it up with a heatpad in one of the corners that gives a small area a boost of about 20 degrees. I figure that's about the same as a heat lamp, with a little bit more of a safety factor.

Tomorrow I'm moving the heat lamp for the final time, so that it's not shining on them, just heating the room (which should give them 65-70 degrees). Then I'm gonna shut it off once and for all (giving them about 50-60 degrees). And then it's outdoors, I hope.

I feel like such a nervous chick mom, being all concerned about this. I even partitioned off my coop (even though they're my only birds) so that their body heat would have a smaller area to heat. They've got a third of the coop setup for when they go out. Then I'll upgrade them to 2/3s, and finally the whole thing.

I fear I might be over thinking this.

 

[Ban seabhag]

I know what you mean about over thinking it. It can get pretty cold here but as long as its fairly moderate I think I had better give it a (gradual) try. This is way harder on me than it will be on them in the long run I am sure.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Just make sure they can get away from the heat if they want to.