When can I bring them outside?

[rcormier1717]

hi there!
I’m a new chicken mom and I have nine 5 week old chicks that seem to be almost fully feathered to me. I want to bring them outside but I’m not sure if they’re ready to stay out over night. They do great during the day time but I have been bringing them in overnight. They haven’t had a heat lamp in about two weeks and have acclimated great. I keep the window cracked overnight in the room they stay in to get them ready. They seem to be going a little stir crazy and jump out of their brooder to roost on the edge. They’re stinky and I can’t wait to put them outside permanently. It currently drops to as low at 52 overnight. Will they be okay?

 

[rcormier1717]

hi there!
I’m a new chicken mom and I have nine 5 week old chicks that seem to be almost fully feathered to me. I want to bring them outside but I’m not sure if they’re ready to stay out over night. They do great during the day time but I have been bringing them in overnight. They haven’t had a heat lamp in about two weeks and have acclimated great. I keep the window cracked overnight in the room they stay in to get them ready. They seem to be going a little stir crazy and jump out of their brooder to roost on the edge. They’re stinky and I can’t wait to put them outside permanently. It currently drops to as low at 52 overnight. Will they be okay?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Long as the coop is safe, non drafty and it's warm during night they should do fine. Of course my first flock went outside permanently at 10-11 weeks lol bad weather.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I keep the windows wide open in my brooder-room. Mine are ready to go out (approximately 7 weeks) but DH and I have argued over the coop and it's not finished! Mine haven't had heat for weeks; they sleep in a cluster on their pine shavings, and "roost" on some branches they have in their (big) brooder.

Mine enjoy going out in the day, too, but it's hard to catch them to bring them outside!

 

[Willowspirit]

It's time! They look great and they'll love it!

 

[rcormier1717]

Thank you for all of your input! Our coop is safe after many renovations to it and a crafty boyfriend that likes to build. It’s not drafty other than two very small vents for circulation. I just want to make sure they’re happy and healthy

 

[UncleDougsChickens]

I put mine outside at 3-4 weeks old and they do fine (warm weather only though, not fall or winter). Done it to 4 different generations now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for all of your input! Our coop is safe after many renovations to it and a crafty boyfriend that likes to build. It’s not drafty other than two very small vents for circulation. I just want to make sure they’re happy and healthy

How small are your vents? Draft is one thing, but you need enough ventilation to let moisture out of the coop and to keep a good air flow going inside.

 

[rcormier1717]

How small are your vents? Draft is one thing, but you need enough ventilation to let moisture out of the coop and to keep a good air flow going inside.

There are two four by four inch vents on either side of the coop

 

[rosemarythyme]

There are two four by four inch vents on either side of the coop

You're going to want to add quite a bit more. Chickens generate a lot of moisture just by breathing (and pooping) and that moisture needs to be able to escape. Here's an article that hopefully you'll find informative: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/

The recommended minimum amount of ventilation on here is 10% of floor space or 1 sq ft per chicken, whichever is greater. If the coop is on the small side that might be difficult to achieve but you want to aim to get as close to that if possible - if the coop is large then it should be easy to add more than minimum.