when can chicks go outside

[rhode island redsy]

i have 10 day old chicks can they go outside now if its 70 degrees out. If not how long should i wait

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

If you are tallking about a day trip, it's fine. Permanently, I'm not entirely sure. I usually wait until it doesn't get below 50 at night. If it's colder than that and they just have to go out, I provide a light for them the get under in case they get cold. Otherwise I prefer waiting until they atleast get their feathers. So 3 maybe 4 weeks.

 

[snowflake]

10 days is to early , the book says 95 for first week and lower 5 each week there after witch would mean at least 5 or 6 weeks to 70.for a short time I'm sure would be fine.

 

[bantyshanty]

If you're going out with the chicks and will be there, it shouldn't be a problem to try it. If it's sunny, try it. They'll use the sun to warm up, and if they all huddle together at any point, or shiver, they're too cold, bring them in. By 3-4 weeks, they should be fine for an hour or more if they have access to sun, food, water, safety. Mine have done this at 12 days & more with no problems. My chicks haven't liked the standard brooder temps either, though. If you have a breed that's not cold-hardy, you might want to wait a week.

 

[Tala]

If you are set up with a lamp and secure brooding area, then anytime you want they can live outside.

I brought 3-4 day old chicks home from TSC and plunked them straight in the outside broode. I put them out there because I already had some 2-3 week olds that were lonely. One escapee died later (toldja it had to be secure) but the others are doing great.

Generally, I put them out by the time they reach 2 weeks old.
The longest I've ever kept them in was 2.5ish or close to 3 weeks, and I swore never again! The dust was awful!!!

 

[Carenm]

Our chicks are almost 3 weeks and today we let them out for about 15 minutes. They LOVED it. It was about 75 today and they did just fine.

 

[Ariel301]

Mine are one week old and three weeks old and have spent all of the last two days outside (I bring them in before it starts to get dark) at 70 degrees. They don't seem cold at all.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
One thing I have noticed is that these 1 week olds and 1 month olds are all happy under the same temperatures. Of course they can all self-regulate how close they want to be to the lamp I put it down low enough to keep the youngsters warm overnight.
I think putting them out earlier makes them tougher and healthier.

 

[rhode island redsy]

ok its suppose to be 72 and i just wanted take them out for 20 min or so